Archive for the ‘Health & Nutrition’ Category

By Cameron McKirdy
It’s Superbowl Sunday. Go nuts. Forget all your worries, sit back with a cold one, and watch TV. Soak up all the bread and circuses. This is what people are passionate about. Men playing with their balls.

Watching 3 plus hours of sports has to have some benefit right? I’m trying really hard to figure out what though. It seems all this energy is wasted. Why watch people compete anyways? Is it entertaining? Maybe we want to know who the loser is. I think it’s the viewers.

I’ve boughten into sports hype before. It’s something to do. And if you go to a game, you feel cool because you are a part it. But isn’t it all just a giant, intentional distraction? What should we be focused on instead? Community? Country? Family? Spending time doing almost anything other than watching sports on TV seems wise.

The viewers are on the bottom of the sports pyramid scheme. You pay to watch. Then there’s the athletes and sports reporters. They get paid OK for acting out a role. At the top of the sports pyramid is the Owner. He constructed the team, and gets paid to stage the show. The few control the many.

All anyone is talking about on Facebook, and twitter is college, and pro football. And if it’s not that, then there’s another league to follow. There’s always something completely manufactured to buy into, and consume. I say there isn’t a point to sports. There’s a point to being healthy, and fit, but watching sports games all the time is stupid. And if you have a fantasy football team, you may be special.

America, World, the time has come to put down the remote, and stop rooting for your favorite team. Instead, work together on real issues. Sports are ALL hype. See it, and don’t buy in. You deserve better. Your brain needs real knowledge. You can’t learn a damn thing watching college football or any other sport, besides maybe mixed martial arts. That’s badass, and MMA training could save your life. Team sports are lame. I want to see who is the best individual athlete. That’s why boxing, golf, track, cycling, and even chess are more interesting to me.

In conclusion, sports are used against you, to distract you from real issues. We’ve turned into a Nation of bandwagon fanatics, drunk on cheap food and savage entertainment. Walk away. Save yourself from becoming a look-alike, cookie-cutter, die-hard supporter. It’s all manufactured entertainment. You can enrich your mind with more. Dream bigger.

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By Cameron McKirdy
My buddy stopped by today with pockets full of raw mushrooms from the forest in our backyard. He shared his amazing, fresh chanterelles, and chicken of the woods mushrooms. You gotta try these flavorful fungi.

First we cleaned the chanterelles, then dried them. After dicing them up, they went into a pan on low heat. We sautéed them in butter, and a little organic sunflower oil. Next we added minced, fresh garlic. The shrooms were amazing like that.

This was my first taste of chantrelle mushrooms. I was surprised by the rich, spicy flavor. It lingered on the tounge. Very yummy. They are orangish, funnel-shaped, with wavy caps. Chanterelles are known for being rich in vitamin C, D, and potassium too.

Chanterelles are hard to find in the Pacific Northwest. My hommie found a pound of them on his elk bow hunting trip. I’m hooked now. I’m going to find some, and dry them for future meals. I could even sell them to local restaurants. These edible mushrooms are truly a delicacy.

After we lightly cooked the chantrelles we mixed them in turkey chili, with black pepper. It was so good. I savored every bite. It was a five star feast. Thankfully I have friends that share. %^].

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Survival Bros is hungry and focused. We promise to bring you quality reviews of the products we actually use. This blog looks at the Jetboil Zip cooking system.

At $74.95 the Jetboil stove is not cheap. It’s nicer than the ones you can get at Big 5, and other smaller sporting goods stores. Survival Bros invested in the Zip because it’s compact, efficient, and light weight. Not including the pot support and fuel stand, it weighs just 12 ounces. The system can be packed up, and self contained. Even a small fuel tank can store inside the cup securely.

It takes just over 2 minutes to boil 16 ounces of water, depending on how cold it is, and how much fuel you have. That means you can prepare freeze dried and dehydrated Mountain House meals at camp in minutes. The 0.8 liter cup is insulated too. These guys thought of it all. The lid strains liquid, and the bottom cup can measure, or be a bowl. Also included is a tripod stand to avoid spilling.

The entire Jetboil Zip cooking system is perfect for weekend backpacking trips into the outdoors. I’ve used it several times to make hot coffee, cook, and boil sketchy water for safety. It’s extremely convenient.

Survival Bros highly recommends this stove for short trips, and light cooking. I’d love to have the bigger size to cook even more hot food. Until then I’m keeping the Zip, and stocking up on Jetboil fuel. I actually bought mine off eBay for about $20 less than retail. It pays to plan ahead, and price around. Have a Jetboil? Tell us what you think of it.

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By Cameron McKirdy
So you want to eat like a caveman. Well, before you hunt down that wild boar, let’s take a look at the Paleo Diet, and see if it agrees with you. Nom nom nom.

Where’s my beef, eggs, and chickens? I’m hungry. I will tell you what, even thinking about eating animals is making me salivate. However, I could never be a die hard Paleo devotee. Paleos now eat just seafood, meat, nuts, seeds, eggs, fungi, roots, fruits, and vegetables. They look down on carb-laced grains, legumes, salt, dairy products, refined sugars, and processed oils. Still, most on Paleo are likely recklessly scarfing GMO products, and heavily processed meats. Forget that. I prefer to eat some high-quality meats, and fresh fish like salmon, but mostly raw, living juice. Do you really want dead flesh rotting inside you for days? Gross. And last time I checked, carbs give you energy. I’m not giving up Dave’s Killer bread (Sin Dawg) for fungi. Yeah right.

I’m primarily liquitarian. I drink raw fruit and veggie juice, and add supplements, vitamins, and minerals. Drinking only liquids will help you feel lighter, and healthier. I do a 24 hour juice fast at least once a month, and go for 3-9 days twice a year or so. Try drinking just broth one day for a real challenge and natural cleanse.

If you are looking for a diet to gain muscle, you can do it on Paleo, or even as a vegan. The key is to find what your body likes. Testing yourself for food allergies is smart too. Maybe you’ve been eating wrong all along. These days I like consuming light meals. Meats bog me down. I’d rather drink a meal replacement shake with rice, or hemp protein powder. I also like eating peanuts, and that’s not on the Paleo diet. It’s a bean. OMG! Please… Pass the fluffy pancakes, and chunky peanut butter. Then I’m ready for some real physical activity. And another thing; what’s wrong with Greek yogurt? Nothing. That’s not worse for you than a fatty fast food burger. Get real Paleos. Some dairy is OK. Example #2: goats milk. #3: breast milk.

Sure our ancestors were scavengers, then hunter-gathers, but we are smarter and more advanced now. We have superfoods at our disposal. Research them online, and get to know your health food store. Plus, juice hardcore! Paleo is a fad. Contrary to the cavemen, carbs are not evil. Eat balanced. Eat often. Make your body a science project, and put in what you want to get out. Do work.

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I finally painted my Mongoose mountain bike flat black. This blog covers how I painted it, and other preparations I’ve done to my End of the World transportation.

First I stripped my bike bare. I took off the back fender/rack, and the seat. I had to remove a LED light attached to my seat post. I also removed a bunch of stickers, and residue. Most came off after using Goof Off, lacquer thinner, and a flat razor blade. Once the surface was clean, I blasted it flat black with Rust-olium Universal all-surface spray paint. It’s an awesome product. You can shoot at any angle. It sticks to metal, plastic, wood, whatever, but costs almost $10 a can.

Next I rattle canned the frame. I did one side, then the other, and finally the bottom. I did two coats, so it took a few hours to paint it all and allow for drying. I painted the wheels and tires quickly also. Then I put it all back together.

To get an even coat I removed the cables, but had a problem getting them back on tight. The guys at Prom Bike Shop in Seaside OR helped adjust them. They know me so it was a free fix. I buy stuff there all the time, and trust them with all my repairs. This is the third time I’ve resurrected this bike, but she is looking good now. Good luck seeing me on this stealth flat black beast.

Painting my bike was easy. The hard part was not painting myself or the driveway. Now I can put some smaller packs on this bike, but I have another bicycle that can haul more. Hopefully I can get a trailer before the Apocalypse happens. This bike needs a light, plastic front fender soon. It will have a first aid kit, and emergency food onboard. There’s a bright light and black bell on the front as well for safety.

I also plan to make a motorized bicycle in the near future. I enjoy designing rat bikes that look like something out of the Mad Max movie. You gotta go flat black. It looks sick.

– Cameron McKirdy

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I just blended my first whole fruit and vegetable smoothie with the Ninja blender! Here’s my product review, with two healthy recipes.

I picked up my blender for $90 at Walmart. I like that it’s professional grade, and holds 72 ounces. Plus, the pitcher is BPA free, which is important. You don’t want chemicals leaching into your drink. The built-in pour spout is clutch also! I’m going to use it every time so I don’t spill.

The Ninja is a beast. It boasts 900 watts of power, and has several sharp blades. The base is wide, and sturdy. It even has a place for the cord. It’s great for blasting ice and anything else. I’ve used a Vitamix a lot, and I think this works better. It mixed my protein more thoroughly, and got the powder off the sides of the pitcher. At less than 1/5th of the cost, Survival Bros highly recommends this blender.

I put its power to the test. I mixed kale, spinach, protein, frozen berries, maca, and cold water. It had no problem breaking it all down. Clean up was easy too, and it’s dishwasher safe. The dial control was cool to use and simple. I already want another, more powerful Ninja with the different containers.

Here’s two smoothie recipes to try:

Wild Blackberry and Grape
2 cups of blackberries
1 1/2 cups of organic purple grape juice
1 teaspoon organic raw honey
Add a banana for more carbs
Blend with ice if berries aren’t frozen
Try with spinach!

Hippie Vanilla Raspberry Smoothie
1 cup of fresh raspberries
1/2 cup natural bio yogurt
1 cup vanilla hemp milk
1 heaping scoop of Sunwarrior vanilla brown rice protein powder
Option: strawberries

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This is a picture of my extreme breakfast shake, with One World Whey raw chocolate protein powder, spring water, Starbucks Via French Vanilla instant coffee, raw cacao, maca powder, and Adam’s peanut butter. Produced by Cameron McKirdy

by Cameron McKirdy

Today was glorious. I hosted the 3rd annual Seaside Oregon Eating Championship at Broadway Park for charity. We had both an adult, and kid eating contest featuring Subway footlong sandwiches. History was made.

Broadway park is awesome. It’s changed a lot since I’ve lived in Seaside. We got a new baseball and football field, and a jungle gym for kids to exercise on. Plus, we have a dope skate park. There’s even a basketball court, bathrooms, and an under cover picnic area near the river. It’s the heart of this coastal community.

I love hosting the eating contest each year. I’m a pro eater, so it’s great to watch the local talent develop, and appreciate the sport. It’s a pleasure to host it for charity, and support the Sunset Empire Parks and Recreation Department. This year the kids winner was the first to eat a footlong. One kid was cheating and fake puking his sub in the trash. He ended up with a generous 2nd place title. The adults had to mow 2 footlongs! Hardcore. A local ringer won again this year. Next year I’m putting down the mic and taking the championship.

Eating healthy is essential. Chewing is good too. Even though I host eating contests, proper nutrition is always on my mind. Eating a balanced diet and staying hydrated is key. Please don’t try competitive eating at home. You’ll end up bitting a finger off, or using pets for training food. The lesson here is to have fun, stay active, and eat all the good stuff you can. And support your local parks too! Peace.

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Here’s my video footage of the contest!  Funny stuff.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-_aTVaOLiQ

Looking for a secret spot to swim? Most tourists don’t know about The End of The World in Seaside Oregon. Here’s a quick blog about training in the estuary.

To find this chill beach spot, drive down 12 Ave. and turn right on N Franklin St. Go to the dead end and park. Take the short trail North to the beach. Hidden in the grass is yet another trail to explore.

The estuary is a great place to train. I swam the last two days there. The water is so cold! Maybe that’s why we were the only ones spashing around. When we went, the current was sucking hard into the Pacific Ocean. My hommie and I challenged ourselves to go upstream. I swam freestyle, then began swim-running in the shallow water. My Marine buddy worked on his survival/combat stroke. The combat side stroke, aka CSS was developed and taught by the United States Navy Seals. He was swimming on his side, kicking, and front crawling through the current. He had a very efficient technique. Learn that.

Swimming up current is tough. Survival Bros challenges YOU to try it this summer. Plus, If you like crab, you can wade through the estuary with a rake for an easy dinner. 2 or 3 crabs should satisfy your hunger after aqua running. All you need is melted butter.

Survival Bros is all about challenging yourself. Make missions for yourself to complete. It can be anything, from an endurance bike ride to swimming against Mother Nature. Go hard this summer. You’re responsible for your health. More preparedness blogs coming soon. Best wishes from the beach.

– Cameron McKirdy

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They are everywhere! There’s billions of berries bursting from the vines right now. Survival Bros challenges YOU to harvest some in your area this summer! What are you waiting for? It’s free food.

I rolled to the Mill Ponds in Seaside, OR with a hommie this morning. We packed in breakfast sandwiches, and found tons of ready-to-eat fruit on the trail. Even more will be ready later this week. I will be back to collect pounds of wild blackberries. They are so sweet! I want to rub them all over my face. I’m going to freeze some for my power smoothies. We collected handfuls today. What a blessing. %^].

– Cameron McKirdy

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I could have sold my soul a long time ago. Instead, I’ve been expressing myself fully, and making all of Earth my home. Having a minimum wage job isn’t going to help humanity or myself. I belong outside, free with the rest of nature to expand.

So I’m living in a tent and couch surfing. There’s nothing wrong with that. I figure it toughens me up. In the outdoors I can test myself, and my gear. Indoors are for fluffy house cats, and domesticated divas watching TV to get their drama fix. The nature of reality isn’t broadcast on TV. The truth is, we are all connected. But it feels like instead of working together, people compete. Compete for girls, money, jobs, cars, and houses. None of that means anything to me. It’s just stuff that can tie you down. I’m endless. You can’t label me. I am as free as the wind. I’ve experienced the highs, the lows, and I’m balanced. I rarely worry. Earth takes good care of me. The authorities are the ones that want to take away your rights and freedoms. No overnight camping they say. I say, that’s what camping is.

Why pay $450 or more per month in rent? That’s crazy. Then you have to commit to an expensive place to sleep. I’d rather find a flat piece of land and make camp. I’m learning important skills like: navigating and reading maps, starting fires, cooking healthy inexpensive meals, and foraging for food. Being homeless gives me an opportunity to be a happy camper with less. I value the small things, like a warm blanket, and friends sharing their survival stories.

The BIG collapse is still coming, but many Americans are already living paycheck to paycheck with little savings. More young people are becoming homeless. They are sleeping in cars with no gas, or crashing on their buddy’s boat for shelter. We need to stop making a big deal out of homelessness, and just help people in need. It’s simple, if you have more, give. I will never be rich because I’d give all my possessions away. I need very little now. Food, water, shelter. To attain those things I hustle, or help people. I don’t think you should have to pay to live. God put me here to do what I want, and to appreciate nature. That’s what I’m going to do. Don’t tell me I can’t sleep on a park bench. Don’t tell me anything. Please just help the less fortunate if you can. The Universe will hook you up. Peace.

P.S. – I’m doing great!

Cameron McKirdy

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