Picking the Perfect Penny Stock

 Penny stocks, also known as micro-cap stocks or Pink Sheet stocks, are defined as stocks that trade for less than $5 per share. These stocks are often associated with small or new companies that are seeking capital and are not listed on major stock exchanges such as the NYSE or NASDAQ. Investing in biopharmaceutical, tech, and other healthcare startups can offer the potential for massive upside, as these industries are known for high-growth potential and disruptive technologies. Other popular industries for penny stock investment include exploratory oil and gas companies, and mining companies. However, investing in penny stocks also comes with significant risks, including a lack of regulation, liquidity, and financial information. This form of investing is not suitable for everyone, and should only be considered by those who have a high risk tolerance and have thoroughly researched their investment. Just like in my own personal experiences and with my clients, there's a certain gambler's allure to investing in penny stocks, but it's important to keep in mind that it is not a good idea unless the Pink Sheet is a well-researched choice.

The Potential for Massive Gains: Exploring Biopharmaceutical, Tech, and Healthcare Startups

Why These Industries are Attractive to Investors

1. High-Growth Potential: Biopharmaceutical, tech, and other healthcare startups are known for their high-growth potential, with some companies experiencing growth in the thousands. For example, NIO, a Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer, saw its stock price increase from $2.00 to $60.00 within a year.
2. Disruptive Technologies: The biopharmaceutical, tech, and healthcare industries are constantly evolving, with new drugs and treatments being developed and approved by regulatory agencies such as the FDA. These advances can drive demand and increase the value of these companies.
3. Undervalued Markets: Startups in these industries are often undervalued, meaning that they have not yet reached their full potential. As they grow and mature, they can offer significant returns to investors who get in early.

Case Studies of Successful Penny Stock Investments

1. Gilead Sciences (GILD) was a penny stock that rose from $2.00 per share to over $100.00 per share over the course of a few years, largely due to its successful development of antiviral drugs.
2. Nektar Therapeutics (NKTR) saw its stock price increase from $2.00 to over $100.00 per share after developing a new drug for cancer treatment.

How to Research and Identify Promising Investments

In order to research and identify promising penny stock investments, it's important to consider the following factors:

1. Financial information: Look for companies with solid financials, including revenue growth and profitability.
2. Market position: Consider the company's position in its industry, including its market share and competition.
3. Management and leadership: Evaluate the company's management team, including their experience and track record.
4. Regulatory approval: Consider the regulatory approval status of the company's products or services.
5. News and media coverage: Keep up with news and media coverage of the company and industry to stay informed about any developments or trends.

It's important to keep in mind that investing in penny stocks is highly speculative and not suitable for all investors. Before investing, it is highly recommended to discuss with a licensed advisor.

The Dark Side of Penny Stocks: Understanding the Risks Involved

Understanding the "Rug-Pull" Phenomenon

The "rug-pull" phenomenon is a term used to describe the act of unscrupulous individuals artificially inflating the value of a penny stock and then selling it, leaving unsuspecting investors with worthless shares. This type of scam is unfortunately common in the world of penny stocks and highlights the risks involved with this type of investment.

Risks Associated with Investing in Penny Stocks

1. Lack of Regulation: Penny stocks are not regulated in the same way as traditional stocks and there is often a lack of transparency and accountability. This makes it easier for fraudsters to manipulate the market and scam investors.
2. Lack of Liquidity: Penny stocks often have low trading volume, meaning that it can be difficult to buy or sell shares quickly. This can lead to significant price swings and make it challenging for investors to exit their positions.
3. Lack of Financial Information: Many penny stocks are not required to provide financial information, making it difficult for investors to properly assess the company's financial health. This can lead to uninformed investment decisions and increase the risk of losing money.

Minimizing Risks and Avoiding Scams

To minimize the risks associated with investing in penny stocks and avoid scams, it's important to do your research and exercise caution. Here are some tips:

1. Work with a licensed advisor: Before investing, discuss your options with a licensed financial advisor who can help you make informed investment decisions.
2. Conduct thorough research: Research the company and its financials before investing to ensure that you understand the risks and potential rewards.
3. Stay informed: Stay up-to-date on industry news and developments to ensure that you are aware of any potential risks or scams.
4. Diversify your portfolio: Consider spreading your investment across a variety of stocks and industries to minimize your risk.
5. Invest for the long-term: Penny stocks are often highly speculative and not suitable for long-term investment. Consider investing only if you are comfortable with the risks involved and have a solid understanding of the company and industry.

In sum, penny stocks and pink sheets can offer investors the potential for massive upside, particularly in the biopharmaceutical, tech, and healthcare startup industries. However, this potential is accompanied by significant risks, including the "rug-pull" phenomenon, lack of regulation, liquidity, and financial information. To minimize these risks and make informed investment decisions, it's important to conduct thorough research, stay informed, diversify your portfolio, and work with a licensed advisor. At Caelian Capital Strategies, we understand the importance of having an experienced and licensed investment professional in your corner. That's why we would be happy to meet with you and your family to discuss any investment ideas they may have. While investing in penny stocks can be tempting, it's important to remember that these investments are highly speculative and not suitable for long-term investment. With caution and due diligence, investors may be able to navigate the world of penny stocks and reap the rewards of high-growth potential and disruptive technologies.

The Truth About Passive Income: Is it really worth it?

 In this article we are going to dive deep into passive income by looking at the following list:

• Define what passive income is and the different types of passive income streams (rental properties, dividend stocks, online businesses, etc.).
• Highlight the hard work and discipline required to achieve a passive income stream. This could include research and planning, networking, building a team, and more.
• Discuss how books and gurus often present a glamorous, simplified version of achieving passive income without fully emphasizing the work and dedication required.
• Address the prevalence of scams and schemes that promise easy or "quick" ways to achieve passive income, and explain why these are almost always too good to be true.
• Provide practical, actionable tips and advice for readers who are interested in pursuing passive income streams, such as building an emergency fund, diversifying investments, and seeking out mentorship and support.
• Conclude by reiterating that while passive income streams can be achieved, it takes hard work, discipline, and a long-term perspective to reach that point.

 

Passive income is a term used to describe income that is earned without actively working for it. This means that the income continues to come in even if you're not actively working on it. Some examples of passive income streams include rental properties, dividend stocks, and online businesses such as Amazon FBA and Dropshipping.

But is Passive income a scam? Is it some dirty trick? Is it a good idea to try to get "Mailbox Money"? Well, let's delve into some different types of passive income, if it truly is passive, and some of the requirements to understand.

The concept of passive income has been around for a long time, and it's often promoted as a way to achieve financial freedom and live a life of leisure. However, it's important to understand that achieving a true passive income stream requires a significant amount of work, planning, and discipline.

It's also important to note that the idea of passive income has been used as a sales pitch for many years, with books and courses promising to teach people how to achieve passive income with little to no effort. These promises are often "too good to be true" and can lead to disappointment and financial loss.

It's also important to mention that there are many scams and schemes promising to provide passive income with little to no effort, but in reality, these are almost always "get rich quick" schemes that are not sustainable and can lead to financial loss.

In addition, it's important to point out that the idea of passive income is often used as a way to sell products or services that promise to help people achieve passive income. But these products or services may not be necessary to achieve a passive income stream and may not be worth the cost.

In summary, it's important to be aware that the concept of passive income has been around for a long time and has been promoted as a way to achieve financial freedom and live a life of leisure. However, achieving a true passive income stream requires a significant amount of work, planning, and discipline. It's important to be realistic about the amount of effort required and to be aware of the many scams and schemes that promise easy passive income.

Rental properties are a popular form of passive income, as they generate income from rent without the need for constant management. Dividend stocks also provide a form of passive income, as they pay out dividends on a regular basis without the need for constant trading.

Amazon FBA and Dropshipping are examples of online businesses that can provide a form of passive income, as they allow you to sell products without having to constantly manage the inventory or shipping process. However, it's important to note that these online business models also require a lot of upfront work, planning, and research before scaling.

Before diving into Amazon FBA or Dropshipping, it is important to understand that these business models are not a guaranteed way to make money and come with their own set of challenges. For example, in the case of Amazon FBA, you will have to deal with Amazon's fees, competition, and ever-changing policies. Similarly, in the case of Dropshipping, you will have to find trustworthy suppliers and deal with the shipping and handling of the products.

It's also worth noting that while both Amazon FBA and Dropshipping can provide a form of passive income, they are not truly passive. Both require ongoing effort and attention to maintain and grow the business. This could include monitoring sales, managing inventory, and marketing efforts.

Another thing that people think is that passive income is the key to financial freedom, but it's not the only way to achieve it. It's important to have a diverse set of income streams, such as a combination of active and passive income, to achieve financial freedom.

In conclusion, while passive income is a desirable goal, it's important to understand that it's not truly passive and requires a lot of up front work, planning and research. Scams and schemes promising passive income and getting rich quick are always "too good to be true" and should be avoided. Amazon FBA and Dropshipping can be profitable online business models, but they also come with their own set of challenges and are not a guaranteed way to make money. And lastly, financial freedom is not only achieved by passive income but by a diverse set of income streams.

When it comes to achieving a passive income, it's important to understand that the road to getting there is not always easy. Achieving a passive income stream requires a lot of up-front work, planning, and discipline.

For example, let's take rental properties as an example. While rental properties can provide a form of passive income, they also require a significant amount of work and discipline to acquire, maintain, and manage. This includes finding and researching properties, securing financing, managing tenants, and dealing with repairs and maintenance.

Similarly, when it comes to dividend stocks, while they provide a form of passive income, they also require a significant amount of work and discipline to research, purchase, and manage. This includes researching companies, analyzing financials, and monitoring the performance of the stocks over time.

In the case of online businesses such as Amazon FBA and Dropshipping, the process of building a profitable business from scratch can be quite daunting. It requires a lot of research, planning, and hard work. It's not a get rich quick scheme and you will have to spend a lot of time learning how to do it well.

In summary, the key to achieving a passive income is to understand that it requires a lot of up-front work, planning, and discipline. It's important to be realistic about the amount of effort required and to be patient as the process can take time.

It's also important to note that achieving a passive income doesn't mean you can kick back and relax. You will have to continue to monitor and manage your investments, whether it's rental properties or dividend stocks or Amazon FBA or Dropshipping. You will have to put in work to keep the income stream going.

It's easy to get caught up in the idea of passive income and the idea of making money while you sleep. But the reality is that achieving a passive income requires hard work, discipline, and dedication.

Indeed, books and gurus often present a simplified and glamorous version of achieving passive income, without fully emphasizing the work and dedication required. They may highlight the potential benefits and financial rewards of passive income, but often downplay the effort and discipline required to achieve it.

For example, many books and gurus promote the idea of "mailbox money," where passive income streams like rental properties or dividend stocks provide a steady stream of cash flow without the need for active involvement. However, they may not fully explain the effort required to find, purchase, and manage rental properties or the research and discipline required to select the right dividend stocks.

Additionally, books and gurus often present passive income as a way to achieve financial freedom and retire early, but they may not fully explain the level of effort required to build a sustainable passive income stream that can support a comfortable lifestyle.

Furthermore, some books and gurus use a lot of technical terms, which can be confusing for people who are new to the concept of passive income, they may not fully explain the risks and complexities involved in building a passive income stream.

It's important to note that these books and gurus may not have bad intentions, but their simplified version of passive income can lead to unrealistic expectations and disappointment for those who are not prepared to put in the work and dedication required to achieve it.

In summary, books and gurus often present a simplified and glamorous version of achieving passive income, without fully emphasizing the work and dedication required. While they may highlight the potential benefits and financial rewards of passive income, they may not fully explain the effort and discipline required to achieve it. It's important to be aware of this and be prepared to put in the work and dedication required to achieve passive income.

Unfortunately, there is a prevalence of scams and schemes that promise easy or "quick" ways to achieve passive income. These scams and schemes often use flashy marketing and promises of overnight riches to lure in unsuspecting individuals.

For example, some scams may promise easy money through real estate investing or online businesses, but they may not disclose the significant financial risks or the amount of work required to achieve real success. Others may promise instant wealth through investments in non-traditional assets like cryptocurrencies or foreign currency trading, but these often come with a high level of risk and volatility.

These scams and schemes are often too good to be true and can result in significant financial losses for those who fall for them. They are often not based on sound financial principles or strategies, but rather on unrealistic promises and hype.

It's important to be aware of these scams and schemes and to approach any opportunity that promises easy or quick ways to achieve passive income with a healthy dose of skepticism. It's important to do your own research, ask questions, and seek out unbiased information before investing in any opportunity.

Additionally, it's important to understand that there's no such thing as a get-rich-quick scheme, passive income takes time, effort and dedication to build, but it's worth it. One should always be prepared to invest time and money into building a sustainable passive income stream and be aware that it is not a one-time investment but a continuous process.

In summary, scams and schemes that promise easy or "quick" ways to achieve passive income are prevalent, but they are almost always too good to be true. These scams can result in significant financial losses for those who fall for them, it's important to be aware of them, and approach any opportunity that promises easy or quick ways to achieve passive income with a healthy dose of skepticism. One should be prepared to invest time and money into building a sustainable passive income stream, and be aware that it is not a one-time investment but a continuous process.

If you're interested in pursuing passive income streams, there are a number of practical, actionable steps you can take to get started. Here are a few tips and pieces of advice to keep in mind:

1. Build an emergency fund: One of the most important steps you can take when pursuing passive income streams is to build an emergency fund. This will help you to weather any unexpected financial storms and ensure that you have the resources you need to keep your passive income streams going, even when things don't go as planned.
2. Diversify your investments: Another important step is to diversify your investments. This means spreading your money across different types of assets, such as stocks, bonds, and real estate. By diversifying, you can reduce your risk and increase your chances of success.
3. Seek out mentorship and support: Pursuing passive income streams can be challenging, so it's important to seek out mentorship and support along the way. This can come in the form of a financial advisor, a mentor in your field of interest, or a community of like-minded individuals.
4. Educate yourself: It's crucial to educate yourself about the different types of passive income streams available, the risks and benefits of each, and the strategies for success. You can read books, blogs, or listen to podcasts, attend webinars or workshops, or take online courses to learn more about the subject.
5. Start small: Don't be afraid to start small. It's always better to start with a small investment and grow it over time than to invest everything you have at once. This way you'll learn how to invest and what type of investment fits you best.
6. Be patient: Building passive income streams takes time, effort, and patience. Don't expect overnight success. Instead, focus on building a sustainable income stream that will provide you with financial security for years to come.
7. Have fun: Remember that the whole point of building passive income streams is to give you the freedom to live the life you want. So, don't forget to have a blast.

In summary, building a passive income stream is a great way to achieve financial freedom and security, but it's important to start with a solid foundation. By building an emergency fund, diversifying your investments, seeking out mentorship and support, finding something you're passionate about, starting small and scaling up, staying informed and being patient, you will be on your way to achieving your financial goals. Remember, it's not a get-rich-quick scheme but a long-term commitment that will pay off in the long run.

In conclusion, while passive income streams can be achieved, it takes hard work, discipline, and a long-term perspective to reach that point. Building an emergency fund, diversifying investments, and seeking out mentorship and support are all important steps to take when pursuing passive income streams.

It's important to note that while online stores and real estate can be great ways to generate passive income, they also require a lot of work and effort to maintain. For example, with an online store, you'll need to manage inventory and shipping, while with real estate, you'll need to keep properties rented out, pay for utilities and property taxes, and more.

It's also important to be aware of the prevalence of scams and schemes that promise easy or "quick" ways to achieve passive income. These opportunities are almost always too good to be true.

If you're interested in pursuing passive income streams, one of the best ways to get started is by working with a licensed financial advisor. A financial advisor can help you create a personalized investment strategy, including building a dividend portfolio that can provide a steady stream of passive income over time.

So, don't be fooled by the glamorous promises of easy passive income. Building a sustainable passive income stream takes work, but with the right approach and guidance, it is attainable. Start taking steps today to invest in your future and achieve the financial freedom you desire.

 

 

Creating Your Very Own Financial Blueprint

 

Introduction

You've heard of blueprints. They're the plans that show how a building will be constructed, and they provide guidance for how the structure will be built. In the same way, creating a financial blueprint is a reliable guide for your financial goals and objectives. It doesn't tie you down to any particular path or option, but it does provide direction on where you want to go with your money — and how to get there. Here are six steps to creating your very own financial blueprint:

Your relationship with money.

When you are creating your financial blueprint, it's important to think about your relationship with money. As you consider the following questions, keep in mind that the answers will be different for everyone:

• How do I feel about money? Do I want to earn more? Do I spend it freely, or do I feel guilty when spending money on myself?
• How do I spend my money? Is it on food and clothes or is it on fancy dinners and cars?
• How do I save my money? Do I set aside some every month for savings or does that seem like a waste of time because there are so many things I could be buying right now...like a new bag!
• What is my financial comfort level (how much can we afford)? Is our lifestyle sustainable given our income level and current expenses—or should we adjust our lifestyle accordingly so that we can live within our means (and still enjoy ourselves!)

Crystallizing your goals.

Now that you’ve identified the steps in your money management plan, it’s time to make a list of what those steps are and how they relate to each other.

• What are your goals?
• Why do you want them?
• How will you achieve them?
• When do you want to achieve them?
• How will you measure success (if at all)?

Identifying the problem, and gaining clarity on what you want!

As you begin to identify the problem, it's important to gain clarity on what you want.

What is your vision? What do you dream of? What motivates and inspires you?

For example, if one of your goals is buying a home, who will live there with you? How many children would like to have? Do they all go to public school or are some going to attend private school? Are all of them going to college and getting their degrees—and if so, at what age do they start taking out student loans?

Financial comfort level, savings and investment ideas.

You will want to consider the following factors:

• How much money you have saved.
• How much money you need to save.
• How much money you want to invest and what to invest in.
• What your financial goals are (e.g., retirement, education) and how long it will take you to achieve them. This will help determine what level of risk is appropriate for your investment strategy and time horizon.

Why you need to create a plan for your investments, not just make them.

What's the difference between a plan and a goal? A goal is something you want to achieve. A plan is a roadmap for getting there, with clear actions and steps along the way.

As you begin to invest, it’s important to understand the difference between a plan and a goal. A goal is something that you want to achieve. A financial blueprint is not really about what you want; it’s more about what you need.

Having a financial blueprint lets you take control of your future by making sure that every decision you make has the potential to move you closer to where you want to be. It also helps keep things organized so that nothing falls through the cracks or gets forgotten about—or worse yet, never starts at all! By taking time now to create this blueprint, it'll save lots of time in the future when it comes time for making decisions about investments or other financial matters.

Conclusion

Creating a financial blueprint is the first step to achieving your financial goals. It will help you make better decisions, so you can achieve financial freedom sooner rather than later.

 

Create your very own Financial Blueprint now!

How to Add Crypto to a Retirement Portfolio

  

Diversifying Your Portfolio with Crypto

Have you been seeing the crypto trends? Are you tired of missing out?

Cryptocurrencies are one of the most exciting and potentially lucrative investment opportunities in modern history. The cryptocurrency market has grown exponentially over the past decade, with millions of dollars being invested every day. Digital currencies offer a way for investors to diversify their portfolio beyond traditional stocks and bonds, giving them more control over their finances, as well as exposure to an entirely new asset class. Cryptocurrencies are not just about Bitcoin anymore: there are numerous other coins and tokens that have been created by developers around the world that can help you diversify your portfolio while making some money along the way!

Cryptocurrency in a Nutshell

Cryptocurrency is a decentralized digital currency that uses cryptography to secure transactions and control the creation of new units. The first cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, was created in 2009 by Satoshi Nakamoto. After its release, hundreds of other cryptocurrencies (known as "altcoins") were created using the same blockchain technology that powers Bitcoin.

In order to understand how crypto works and how you can use it yourself, it's important to understand how blockchains are structured. A blockchain is a public ledger of all transactions involving the cryptocurrency since its inception—this means every transaction made using Bitcoin or any other blockchain-based currency can be viewed by anyone at any time!

The Blockchain

The blockchain is a decentralized ledger that records transactions and is the underlying technology of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin. The blockchain is a shared database, distributed across thousands of computers around the world. It contains information about all transactions that have ever taken place on the network, so everyone on the network has access to it, but no single entity owns or controls it.

The term "blockchain" came about because each transaction added to this shared database creates a new block in the chain of transactions which then gets linked together with other blocks in order to form an unbroken chain (hence "blockchain").

Bitcoin

First, let's talk about the most popular cryptocurrency in the world: Bitcoin.

Bitcoin is a digital currency that allows you to send money to anyone, anywhere in the world. It's decentralized, meaning it's not controlled by any one government or institution; instead, it runs on computers all over the world using an open source system that anyone can access and use. Bitcoin isn't backed by any physical commodity like gold—its value comes from its ability to be used as a form of payment for goods or services (and yes, there are places where you can spend your bitcoins).

Ethereum

Ethereum

The second most popular cryptocurrency is Ethereum. The Ethereum platform enables the development of decentralized applications and smart contracts, which are computer programs that can execute automatically, without any human interaction. Smart contracts allow for funds to be held in escrow until the project or service has been delivered. This eliminates the need for trust between parties, as well as reduces legal fees involved with creating traditional agreements.

Ethereum also acts as a digital currency exchange; users can purchase ETH tokens from exchanges with fiat currency (like USD) or other cryptocurrencies (like Bitcoin). The value of Ethers will rise if more people adopt it into their portfolios; unlike stocks and bonds, however, you don't need an account to buy or sell your ETH tokens—you just need access to an online exchange where they're listed for sale!

Litecoin

Litecoin is a peer-to-peer cryptocurrency that enables instant payments to anyone in the world. It's based on an open source global payment network that is not controlled by any central authority.

Litecoin was created in 2011 by Charlie Lee and can be used to purchase goods and services, or trade for other currencies (both cryptocurrencies and traditional currency).

Ripple

Ripple is a payment network that uses blockchain technology to facilitate international payments. It also serves as a cryptocurrency, but its value is linked to the company's services. In this way, Ripple acts as a bridge between traditional banking systems and cryptocurrency markets.

The company recently partnered with Bitcoin Cash-based cryptocurrency exchange Bitrue in an effort to bring more stablecoins into the market and increase adoption of Ripple’s xRapid protocol. The move could help boost XRP prices by increasing liquidity and creating more demand for the token itself.

Dash

Dash is a cryptocurrency that was created in 2014 by Evan Duffield. Dash uses technology to make transactions untraceable and thus private, making it possible to conduct transactions without having to disclose your identity. Dash originally began as XCoin, then Darkcoin before being rebranded as Dash (derived from ‘Digital Cash’). The codebase of Dash is based on Bitcoin, but there are several technical differences between the two cryptocurrencies:

• **Block time:** In Bitcoin, the average block time is 10 minutes while in Dash it's 2.5 minutes (DASH stands for "Digital Cash"). This means that there are more blocks occurring within a shorter time period than with Bitcoin.
• **Total supply:** There can never be more than 21 million Bitcoins mined; however there are currently over 18 million DASH coins mined already! The reward per block will decrease by 7% each year until all coins have been mined around 2023-2026 depending on how many people decide to mine this coin after 2024 when there will be no new rewards offered anymore (this is called "4 years inflation").

Zcash

Zcash is a cryptocurrency that was developed using the Zerocoin protocol. It uses zero-knowledge proofs to prevent any party from seeing transaction amounts or parties involved in transactions. It is one of the few cryptocurrencies that can be considered truly anonymous, as it hides all of this information from everyone except those who choose to reveal it.

Though Zcash has its advantages, there are some drawbacks investors should consider before buying into this coin. It's important to note that though transactions are encrypted when sent through their blockchain, they aren't actually anonymous—Zcash users have an option of revealing information about themselves if they choose to do so (for example, by posting a public address). This means that Zcash isn't completely anonymous in practice; instead, it offers users varying degrees of privacy depending on how much information they choose to share with others.

Investing in crypto is an excellent way to diversify your investment portfolio.

Crypto is an excellent way to diversify your investment portfolio.

Crypto is a new asset class that has the potential to increase in value over time. It is not correlated with other assets like stocks and bonds, so crypto can be used to reduce risk in your overall investment portfolio.

Conclusion

Crypto is an excellent way to diversify your investment portfolio. It can be used as a hedge against inflation and other economic downturns, as well as a way to offset risk with traditional investments such as stocks and bonds. And while it has its ups and downs, crypto offers investors something they can’t get anywhere else—the opportunity to invest directly in an asset class that’s still in its infancy stage.

 

 

 

Whoah an update!

 I've been working crazy hard.

I have an LLC Now! (And I just started a second one, crazy!)

I've added so much to my YouTube Channel!

I have a son now! Heck, I am MARRIED!

There is SO MUCH to talk about and catch up on. The books I've read, the Covid pandemic, This crazy-awesome podcast I listen to now called Timesuck!

I hope you are all excited

How I lost 100 Pounds

My Journey from 290lb to 187lb

Yes. That's a picture of me with a squirrel. Pedro, the fraternity named him.  He joined us one afternoon while we were watching college football. At that time, I was probably around 240lbs. I was drinking and partying. Alot. And, I hadn't discovered Intermittent Fasting.

I was also eating what is considered the Standard American Diet, or SAD diet. Lots of grains, late night fast food, and basically no cooking for myself. I was hitting the gym. Hard. Like really hard - I was doing what's called a 2-day split routine. I was hitting the gym 6 days a week, sometimes 7 for 2+ hours a day. Between working 2 jobs and going to university, the gym was my meditation. My haven. My hobby. But, it consumed me. It consumed me in a way I wasnt aware of. I thought that to continue seeing results I had to keep working out this hard.

Up to this point, I had only heard of diets like adkins and low carb but I never saw any results on them and I never had any energy. So I just worked out really, really hard. As you can see, I was a big dude. but by no means did I have a 6 pack, not like the stuff you kind of see forming around august for me.

In Fact, the March 2012 picture and pedro marks the time in my life when two of the greatest things ever happened to me.

1) I swore of fast food for the rest of my life

and

2) I discovered Intermittent Fasting.


Now, these two decisions alone are probably what launched me from flubby to mostly lean.

The third decision I made was to research. I started devouring resources as fast as my hands could type and quickly as my eyes could read. I started learning about all kinds of hormones like leptin, ghrelin, and cortisol. I even discovered new workout methods which I still use today.

It wasn't easy. I had to be relentless in my desire and hunger (get it) to change. For me, I was the fat kid growing up. So weight was always a struggle and I am still tormented by some of those memories to this day.

Here's the deal, weight isn't that hard to manipulate, if you know the right hacks for your brain. I want to teach you those hacks, but it's very hard to convey over words and paragraphs alone. I highly urge you check out my training sessions on re-framing your brain!


“We would accomplish more things if we did not think of them as impossible.” - Vince Lombardi


It's going to be tough, but you will have to grind it out. You have to make the decision that you are either willing to hustle every day or unwilling to remain the same. Both are going to be powerful motivators for what we want to accomplish.

You have to be relentless. If others can do it, so can you. In my many years at the gym I've seen some amazing things. I've seen skinny kids grow to be muscular. I've seen people drop over 200lbs. I've seen people with one arm, I've seen people in wheelchairs working out. The one thing they all had in common was their determination and perseverance to accomplish whatever goal they had set for themselves.

My goal was to get lean and build muscle. And intermittent fasting was the key to this goal. I chose the method of 16-8. This means 16 hours of not eating and 8 hours of allowing myself to eat.

There are other variations and I highly recommend you trying out them all and finding the variation that works best for you.

For me, the 16-8 method allowed me to have 2 meals a day and still get my snacking in. That was my big problem, snacking. See, we don't need to "fuel the metabolic fire" by eating small meals every 2 hours. Studies certainly show that it can lead to desired outcomes, but you will never feel fully satiated on just a 200 calorie snack. I liked the feeling of being full and happy. Fat and happy haha. With research and trying out Intermittent Fasting, I quickly became addicted.

At first, when beginning Intermittent Fasting, I stuck to my regular Standard American Diet. Why change it up? I was seeing results, I had plenty of energy, and I even increased my 1 rep max on bench press to 375lb. This was great! Amazing!


This Time Restricted eating thing was really working out. And I encourage you to start if you haven't already. The easiest way to start is the 16-8 method.


Ok, so let's fast forward to a few months later, or even a few years later. You've been doing well on the new routine and you've seen some results. Awesome!

But like all good routines, you've hit a plateau. Don't worry! This is normal! There's a few options for you to choose moving forward.

Let me tell you about my personal experience. While I was still in the U.S. the first option I chose was to change up my workout plan. I began to study new routines and different approaches to what I was currently doing. (if you want to learn about specific workout routines, please request a 1 on 1!)

What I discovered was called Reverse Pyramid Training and the science behind it made sense. You want to hit the muscle the hardest at the outset and increase your reps while decreasing weight. So I changed and I saw new results and better results. I overcame the plateau, and you can too!

I continued along this journey. "Nothing tastes as good as lean feels." Years of effort and dedication have paid off. I was finally happy. But I still wanted more. I wanted to push myself further and so should you!

The other option you have is to change your diet. This is why it's a lifestyle change. When you begin the journey of educating yourself more and more on the quality of food you consume, you find out that you don't have to workout as hard or as long to burn the same calories. Don't get me wrong! You have to exercise and you still have to hit it hard! But, as I grew older, my time became more and more important to me.

I was evolving myself to work smarter and not harder. Previously, I was spending 2 hours in the gym, 6 days a week. I was eating everything I wanted, I had no education on the chemicals I was consuming through the SAD diet.

Also, tragedy had struck me. I had terribly injured my shoulder while attempting to play rugby in Spain. This is when I was forced by life to slow down and reassess how to control my weight. I no longer had the ability to exert copious amounts of energy in order to achieve the results I was striving so hard after.

So now, with the inability to workout as hard as I could, I had to find alternative workouts, I learned to come to love leg day at the gym. So at this point, I was still doing intermittent fasting, but I was learning so much more about different types of diets. I was coming to realize my diet had been garbage! I came across resources like Gary Taubes, and the book "Pure, White, and Deadly," internet bloggers like Mark Sisson and Martin Berkham. I invite you to dive down the rabbit hole.

"I would rather skip the stairs and skip the bread"

Once you start diving down the rabbit hole of genetics, you're ability to control your body type and habits becomes sensationally better. You gain a whole new ability to train your brain!


So diet and exercise, yes it's that simple! But it's that hard. Intermittent Fasting is hard! Maybe, after you've done it for a few years, challenge yourself to fast for multiple days! I once fasted for 4 days, just to see if I could.

While, I have fallen off the wagon my fair share of times in not eating bread, or consuming sugary beverages, I always seem to feel my greatest and my strongest and most disciplined when I  am eating a paleo-mimicking diet. Enjoy your cheesecake and grains, and ice cream from time to time, because cheat days are important for your sanity and long term goals!

As for what I discovered about diet, I think a mix of paleo mimicking, Mediterranean, and intermittent periods of keto are the best bet. To make it easier let's just start with cutting down on sugars, learning about the different carbohydrates, and the bodily processes of breaking down the different macronutrients. Further I would start learning the difference in what constitutes good fat and bad fat. For instance Monounsaturated fat is very good for you and can help aid in fat loss whereas trans fat can be highly harmful to your body.

While all of this research is going on, make sure you are being cognizant of the calories in vs calories out. One mental out that people look for is still an excuse to overeat! Nothing can change the laws of thermodynamics, it does have a lot to do with how fast you will achieve your goals. It's just a lot easier to get there while feeling full and satiated with real, whole, good for you foods.



I hope this was helpful and I wish you the best in your continued journey of health and weight loss!