Coach JP’s Blog
Consistency Over Chaos: What Actually Builds Fitness That Lasts
Most fitness plans fail because they chase intensity over consistency. Learn why building a sustainable routine — even at 20% effort on tough days — is the key to long-term health, confidence, and capability.
High Performer, Harsh Critic: When Success in One Area Feeds Self-Doubt in Another
You’re crushing it at work, but feel like a mess when it comes to your health, eating, or fitness? You’re not alone — and you’re not broken. This post breaks down why high performers are often their own harshest critics, and what it actually takes to shift from self-sabotage to sustainable change.
The Only Knives You Really Need in Your Kitchen
I started with the full culinary school knife roll — seven blades, and over the years that grew to twelve, most of which I barely touch now. After 26 years of home cooking, here’s the no-nonsense guide to the only knives most people actually need, what features matter (and don’t), plus tips for maintenance and sharpening that’ll keep them working for decades.
Train for the Life You Want, Not Just the Body You Miss
Most people train to fix something. But what if you trained to build something instead? This article shows how to shift from chasing weight loss to building real-life capability, confidence, and strength — so your fitness supports the life you want to live, not just the body you used to have.
How to Build Satisfying, High-Volume Meals Without Counting Calories
Tired of eating “healthy” meals that leave you starving an hour later? Learn how to build high-volume, satisfying meals that keep you full without counting calories. This approach helps regulate hunger, improve satiety, and support fat loss — no tracking app required.
4 Nutrition Myths That Keep You Stuck (And the One Nutrient That Actually Moves the Needle)
Confused about carbs, fats, hormones, or keto? You’re not alone. This blog breaks down four common nutrition myths that derail fat loss — and explains why protein should be your top priority if you want real, sustainable results.
Why Most Diets Fail (and What to Do Instead)
Most diets fail because they rely on restriction, perfectionism, and short-term thinking. Learn why quick fixes don’t work—and how a structured, flexible fat loss plan can help you lose fat, protect your metabolism, and build habits that actually last.
Why Buying Local Produce is Always a Smart Choice (Not Just Because of Tariffs)
Buying local produce in BC isn’t just about tariffs—it’s about fresher, more nutritious food, a stronger local economy, and sustainability. Learn why choosing BC-grown fruits, vegetables, meats, dairy, and seafood supports your health, community, and environment. Discover where to find the best local options and how small changes can make a big impact.
Night Owls and Early Birds: Proven Strategies for Better Sleep
Discover practical tips for better sleep, whether you’re a Night Owl or an Early Bird. From creating healthy routines and optimising your environment to using tools like sleep tracking, supplements, and napping, this guide will help you wake up refreshed and energised every day.
Sustainable Exercise Tips for Weight Loss: Start Your New Year Right
Discover sustainable exercise tips for weight loss this New Year. From daily movement to strength training, learn how to create habits that support fat loss, health, and longevity without burnout. Perfect for lasting results!
Finding A New Why
From Spartan Races to rediscovering joy in movement, this journey explores overcoming fear, embracing endurance, and confronting burnout after years of relentless competition. With 2025 as a no-race year, it’s a chance to rebuild strength, rediscover passion, and find a new ‘why’ beyond finish lines. A raw reflection on resilience, growth, and the evolving purpose of fitness.
Race Recap: Around The Lake Give'R Take 30K
Read a raw, start-to-finish recap of the 2024 Around The Lake Give'R Take 30K, featuring brutal weather, challenging trails, and mental grit. Join me as I push through fear, anxiety, and pain to beat cutoff times and conquer personal limits. Discover insights on pacing, race-day strategy, and why doing the hard things is always worth it.
Doing Stuff Anyway
I'm facing a tough race with challenging weather and terrain, and I'm not sure I'll make the cutoff. To succeed, I'll need to sustain a pace I've rarely managed before, and there's a real risk of failure or injury. But it's not just about finishing—it's about pushing beyond my comfort zone, testing my limits, and seeing what I’m capable of, even if it scares me. Sometimes you just do stuff anyway.
How Feasting Traditions Connect Us: Mindful Eating Tips for Holiday Celebrations
Exploring the role of feasts throughout history, highlighting how they foster connection, reinforce cultural values, and celebrate abundance, this post examines our evolutionary tendency for overconsumption during feasts and offers strategies for enjoying these occasions mindfully without compromising health. By approaching communal meals with intention, we can maintain balance and celebrate without overindulging.
2024 BTG Baby Barkley Recap
We had a great turnout for the first-ever BTG Baby Barkley this past Saturday, with eleven people participating. The weather was beautiful, and actually was quite comfortable for most of the duration, only getting really hot in the afternoon hours. Read the full post for my recap of my (just under) 6 hours’ effort on the mountain!
My Journey To Ultra - The Obstacle Is The Way
Kicking off the 2024 race season and the ultra training plan…and then getting COVID! Everyone’s got a plan until they get punched in the face, as “Iron” Mike Tyson used to say. Here’s what I’m doing to keep moving forward.
My Journey To Ultra - Baseline (Day 1)
Embarking on a transformative journey in 2024, I'm taking on two monumental challenges: my first 50K mountain ultramarathon and my first Spartan Race Ultra on my 50th birthday. Despite recent health setbacks and injuries, I'm determined to reach peak physical condition. Join me as I document this journey of resilience and self-discovery - it won't be boring!
Brachiation (Hanging Grip / Movement) Training
If you want a good chance of succeeding on the hanging obstacles on a Spartan Race, you're going to have to train your grip and learn to swing like a primate!
While being able to do pull-ups is great, it's not really necessary if you have a strong grip and good technique. It's also less important how long you can statically hang than it is to be able to grip HARD and release over and over again.
Combined with that, it is important to learn how to properly move your body in space while hanging to control your momentum and smoothly load / unload your hands. This can help you to be much more confident in transitioning from one grip event to the next as you move through the obstacles.
Put it all together, and you have brachiation.
My Thoughts After The Spartan Death Race / Race Recap
The 2023 Summer Death Race was a unique experience, shared with some excellent, quality people. Read more for a recap of some race highlights, what I learned from the race, and some important “thank you’s”!
I Will Endure, I Will Experience, and I Will Learn
With so little time to prepare going into my Spartan Death Race (I fly out in 2 weeks!), I'm not going to be able to do anything to meaningfully alter and train my body for the physical demands of this kind of ultra-endurance event. It's simply not possible. Preparing to take the step up from around where my current conditioning is at to run a multi-day endurance race is usually achieved on the timescale of years (yes, YEARS, plural), not weeks, so I'm just going to have to "run what I brung" to use an old motor-racing phrase.
But I can't help having some real moments of deep self-doubt. Like, literally tears streaming down my face while out on a walk or run, "who the hell do I think I am to attempt this?" and "I am in WAY over my head" kind of moments.
So, knowing that I can't change myself physically, and working through my moments of self-doubt, what CAN I do to prepare?