Brian James

Personal Development Coach, Philosopher, and Adventure Athlete.
I write about all forms of self-improvement.
More about #Heroic

[Brian James @tenntrailblazer]

https://t.co/gpNuCXRn50
Meditation video to accompany my upcoming book

[Brian James @tenntrailblazer]

Meal Prep Like a Warrior | Smoked Chicken Thighs https://t.co/i4JmWISXvQ via @YouTube

[Brian James @tenntrailblazer]

https://t.co/RbWbZIOBDa
Never Be Afraid To Change Your Mind

[Brian James @tenntrailblazer]

Also Uploaded to my youtube
https://t.co/TsbCc8nO8B

[Brian James @tenntrailblazer]

The Most Boring Supplement Video on the Internet

[Brian James @tenntrailblazer]

Here’s a full breakdown of the supplements I’m currently taking to support strength training, recovery, and overall health. Supplements in this video: AM Stack: Multivitamin Fish Oil Alpha GPC Joint Pain Stack: Turmeric, Boswellia, Ginger Lisinopril (for blood pressure) Mid-Day Powdered Sups: Glycine Creatine Monohydrate L-Citrulline Collagen Betaine Whey Protein PM Sleep Stack: Magnesium L- Theanine Ashwagandha Melatonin Rosuvastatin (for cholesterol) and a Doxylamine Sleep aid occasionally NAC is not shown, but I'm going to add it back I don't regularly take anything unless it has a lot of evidence to back it up. The joint pain stack is new, but I did take it before years ago and it seemed to help. If it doesn't make a noticable difference I'll take it back out. Glucosamine and chondritin is an example of one that dosen't make the cut. Even though it supposedly works for many people, I can't tell a difference after several months, so I don't take it. 💬 Let me know in the comments what supplements you take and why! 📌 Always check with a doctor before starting any new supplement, especially if you’re on medication.

[Brian James @tenntrailblazer]

Learning to auto-regulate your training is one of the most important skills you can develop.

When you're just starting out, following a plan is good. But even then, you need to listen to your body and adjust.

Everyone’s different. Everyone’s life is different.

A key skill is knowing when to push and when to back off.

For example, I have a very physical job. Most days, I’m too beat up to train hard.

Today, my left elbow is inflamed. I wanted to do push-ups and bodyweight rows. But I know if I do, I’ll make it worse.

So I switched to jump rope. I can’t do that long enough to get the full effect I want, so I followed it with Hindu squats.

Even if you’re following a structured plan, ask yourself:
What is the real goal of today’s session?
If you can stick to the plan, great. If not, find another path to hit the same target without causing harm.

Some call this instinctive training, but that term has baggage. Most people doing “instinctive training” just do whatever feels good in the moment. Same with instinctive eating. That leads to random results.

And random is not useful.

The idea that you need to constantly change things to “keep the body guessing” is outdated. Real progress comes from repeating movement patterns and gradually increasing difficulty over time.

That’s why I always have two standards in my training:

- Ideal; What I want to do if the day goes well

- Minimum; What I’ll do if life gets in the way

Perfection is not necessary.
Consistency is.

Learning to auto-regulate is what makes consistency possible.

[Brian James @tenntrailblazer]

Here’s how I’m structuring my jump rope workout today.

For context, I’m 56 and haven’t used a rope in a couple of years. I expected to start completely from scratch, and the first session seemed to confirm that.

But by the second session, I found I could hit 20–30 jump streaks. That was encouraging. I hadn't lost everything

If you're just getting started, treat these workouts as play.

Start with one of these:

-Light rebounding
-Hopping in place without the rope

This primes the body and grooves in the rhythm. Focus on a smooth bounce; no donkey kicks or big knee lifts. When you feel ready, add the rope.

Figure out how many jumps you can do in a row. Then do a few less than that per set.

At this stage, we’re building skill more than conditioning.

You can turn one or two sets into a personal challenge, how many can I hit this time? That keeps it fun. But keep most sets manageable and light.

Even if it’s just one jump at a time, that’s fine. After each set, rest until your breathing settles, then go again.

I finish with a few minutes of rope flow.
This morning, I only did a couple minutes of hopping and about 15 minutes total combining everything.
Try this out.
Keep it fun.
Consistency is easier when it doesn’t feel like punishment.

Right now, my minimum daily goal is 5 minutes of rope flow. I add more on the days I have time and energy.

[Brian James @tenntrailblazer]

One high-value habit to add to your routine is rope work.
I'll break down three variations, including one most people overlook.

1. Jump Rope
This humble tool appears everywhere, from playgrounds to fighting gyms.

It’s one of the most effective cardio tools on earth:

1. Boosts stamina, agility, VO₂ max, and rhythm
2. Stimulates hormone release and bone remodeling
3. Activates the soleus pump for improved circulation

For older warriors, it’s more than fitness; it’s fall prevention.
Imagine the difference between a typical 65-year-old and one who can jump rope for 20 minutes.

It’s compact, affordable, and brutally effective.
Every warrior over 45 should own one.

2. Rope Flow
Lower impact. Slower pace.

But don’t let that fool you.

Rope flow targets the spine, shoulders, and hips.
It improves joint mobility, cross-body coordination, and brain-body rewiring.
It’s movement therapy, and a powerful ritual on rest or recovery days.

3. Rebounding

No rope. No impact. But still powerful.
It mimics the bounce of a jump rope with less intensity.
Overhyped by some, yes, but still useful.

Rebounding boosts lymph flow, joint stability, and balance.

Perfect for early-phase rebuilding or lighter days.

How to use them:

When you're just starting, cycle all three.
As your capacity grows, rotate them based on your goals and how your body feels.

- Jump rope for intensity
- Rope flow for recovery
- Rebounding for rhythm

Three tools. One mission:
To move like a warrior well into your 70s.

[Brian James @tenntrailblazer]

No fake hustle. No forced schedule.
Just the real journey of a man trying to put himself back together after getting beat to hell by life.
More to come.

[Brian James @tenntrailblazer]

A New Era

I burned out.

I was trying to write, take an online course, start a second business, and rebuild something from scratch.

For a while, I held it together. But eventually, I dropped everything.

Tried a different business. That didn’t work either.

[Brian James @tenntrailblazer]

Went back to a regular job. It drained me. I had nothing left in the tank.

But things are shifting now. I’m not out of the woods, just out of the fog.

A new chapter begins:

Rebuilding my body
Reclaiming my mind
Documenting the process on X and YouTube: Heroes Forge

[Brian James @tenntrailblazer]

When do you all do your meditation? I'm currently doing it last thing before bed and finding it seems to help shutting the brain down before sleep.

[Brian James @tenntrailblazer]

Check out this item on Nextdoor: https://t.co/h6W71vLXNS

[Brian James @tenntrailblazer]

Check out this item on Nextdoor: https://t.co/9xWmXq3NUq

[Brian James @tenntrailblazer]

Check out this item on Nextdoor: https://t.co/ohLNW0xaqq

[Brian James @tenntrailblazer]

Check out this item on Nextdoor: https://t.co/TJpV4h8BGo

[Brian James @tenntrailblazer]

I like that analogy. The second would still be no question for some. But at this point in my life, I would likely tell you to hire a mover. If not, you can still use my truck, but I'm done doing everyone else's heavy lifting.

I have no idea what it would be like in the fire service. Hopefully, it was not like what I had at the Nissan factory I was at for 2 years.

Once a new person told me how they felt like they didn't fit in to our little group. I told them not to worry about it. we appeared close, but in reality, none of us really were, it was just "shared misery".

[Brian James @tenntrailblazer]

@Modrn_Barbarian He was a very friendly dog. It was tempting. I'm sure he belongs to one of the people that live next to the trail.

[Brian James @tenntrailblazer]

Random trail dog out here following people around.