<rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"><channel><title>loganlore</title><description>loganlore</description><link>https://www.loganlore.co.nz/blog</link><item><title>Family Christmas Tree Chopping.</title><description><![CDATA[At our men's health talk over Movember, we covered the base fundamentals that men need to thrive in this world. Three of those were having a deep connection with others and loved ones, the need to feel necessary and the need to feel authentic in our lives. For me, this morning ticked all of those boxes. I'm a simple man and it doesn't take much to put a smile on my face. Going out as a family and collecting a Christmas tree has always been something that I've dreamed of, last year Zahara was a<img src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/6HjjMYG7oOk/mqdefault.jpg"/>]]></description><link>https://www.loganlore.co.nz/single-post/2018/12/14/Family-Christmas-Tree-Chopping</link><guid>https://www.loganlore.co.nz/single-post/2018/12/14/Family-Christmas-Tree-Chopping</guid><pubDate>Fri, 14 Dec 2018 04:19:20 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div>At our men's health talk over Movember, we covered the base fundamentals that men need to thrive in this world. Three of those were having a deep connection with others and loved ones, the need to feel necessary and the need to feel authentic in our lives. For me, this morning ticked all of those boxes. I'm a simple man and it doesn't take much to put a smile on my face. Going out as a family and collecting a Christmas tree has always been something that I've dreamed of, last year Zahara was a bit young to appreciate the idea but this year we were as excited as each other. A great first day of Summer.</div><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6HjjMYG7oOk"/></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Cold Water / Resilience Training Film Coming 2019</title><description><![CDATA[Next year we have some big things coming. One of those is a film showcasing cold water/resilience training in a way that has never been done before. Here are a few glimpses. Until then, see you out training.<img src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/k5AMtOKlBZE/mqdefault.jpg"/>]]></description><link>https://www.loganlore.co.nz/single-post/2018/12/14/Cold-Water-Resilience-Training-Film-Coming-2019</link><guid>https://www.loganlore.co.nz/single-post/2018/12/14/Cold-Water-Resilience-Training-Film-Coming-2019</guid><pubDate>Fri, 14 Dec 2018 04:17:34 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div>Next year we have some big things coming. One of those is a film showcasing cold water/resilience training in a way that has never been done before. Here are a few glimpses. Until then, see you out training.</div><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/k5AMtOKlBZE"/></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Pine Pollen Foraging.</title><description><![CDATA[For about a 5 day window each spring, Pine Pollen is available to harvest here. Each year we go out as a family and try to collect as much as possible for the next 12 months. In this video, we show you some of our favorite foraging spots here in Lake Wanaka as well as the benefits and some of the best ways to collect it. There is a deep and intrinsic feeling of satisfaction that comes with knowing what plants you can use for food and medicinal purposes. It is a craft I look forward to teaching<img src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/ayjrG_XTea4/mqdefault.jpg"/>]]></description><link>https://www.loganlore.co.nz/single-post/2018/10/26/Pine-Pollen-Foraging</link><guid>https://www.loganlore.co.nz/single-post/2018/10/26/Pine-Pollen-Foraging</guid><pubDate>Fri, 26 Oct 2018 02:24:43 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div>For about a 5 day window each spring, Pine Pollen is available to harvest here. Each year we go out as a family and try to collect as much as possible for the next 12 months. In this video, we show you some of our favorite foraging spots here in Lake Wanaka as well as the benefits and some of the best ways to collect it. There is a deep and intrinsic feeling of satisfaction that comes with knowing what plants you can use for food and medicinal purposes. It is a craft I look forward to teaching and sharing more with daughter over the years.</div><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ayjrG_XTea4"/></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The Strong Mans Hypoxic Workout</title><description><![CDATA[We want to be wolves, not the weak, domesticated dog. We know the laws of evolution and understand that we live in a fragile world, the only way for us to grow our iron like robustness is to consistently challenge our physiology.Much our my work and writing revolves around the concept of hormesis. The idea of providing the body with periods of short-term, adaptable stress with the goal of building resilience and strength, engaging our natural biology with incredible health being a by-product of<img src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/pqpl5z_9uJA/mqdefault.jpg"/>]]></description><dc:creator>Ben Logan</dc:creator><link>https://www.loganlore.co.nz/single-post/2017/12/13/The-Strong-Mans-Hypoxic-Workout</link><guid>https://www.loganlore.co.nz/single-post/2017/12/13/The-Strong-Mans-Hypoxic-Workout</guid><pubDate>Wed, 13 Dec 2017 10:03:05 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div>We want to be wolves, not the weak, domesticated dog. We know the laws of evolution and understand that we live in a fragile world, the only way for us to grow our iron like robustness is to consistently challenge our physiology.</div><div>Much our my work and writing revolves around the concept of hormesis. The idea of providing the body with periods of short-term, adaptable stress with the goal of building resilience and strength, engaging our natural biology with incredible health being a by-product of the exercise.</div><div>Hypoxic training in the cold water against a strong current, when done in a controlled way comes with tremendous benefits.</div><div>The famous Lakota warrior Crazy Horse is rumoured to have had an iron cloak which protected him from harm. His incredible resilience was a by-product of his environment and his necessity to survive to look after his people, for us the rules are still the same but our environment is drastically different therefore we need to implement strategies to achieve the same result. A great afternoon spent with my brother Scott Logan pushing boundaries.</div><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pqpl5z_9uJA"/></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The man's guide to understanding the psychology of survival.</title><description><![CDATA[Before we can make changes and action something new, we need to understand the concept and its importance fully. If you have a business meeting, you know the date and time, the location and what the meeting is about which means you can plan accordingly in advance. Survival situations are different in the sense that they provide very little if any warning which means the only assets you can bring to the fight are your mindset strategies on how to respond and what you carry on your person.The need<img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/545182_e16a2a5dad9346f5b3b4cf9a211dc2b1%7Emv2_d_6000_4000_s_4_2.jpg"/>]]></description><dc:creator>Ben Logan</dc:creator><link>https://www.loganlore.co.nz/single-post/2017/10/18/The-mans-guide-to-understanding-the-psychology-of-survival</link><guid>https://www.loganlore.co.nz/single-post/2017/10/18/The-mans-guide-to-understanding-the-psychology-of-survival</guid><pubDate>Tue, 17 Oct 2017 20:48:25 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div>Before we can make changes and action something new, we need to understand the concept and its importance fully. If you have a business meeting, you know the date and time, the location and what the meeting is about which means you can plan accordingly in advance. Survival situations are different in the sense that they provide very little if any warning which means the only assets you can bring to the fight are your mindset strategies on how to respond and what you carry on your person.</div><div>The need for survival is everywhere; we enjoy the notion of the world being a safe and caring place to live and much of the time it is but history shows there are dangers all around. The risk of travel and hostile urban threats, natural disasters and wilderness threats are ever increasing.</div><div>The fundamental question in this equation is what you are prepared to let go off? For those who aren't phased by that question then its time to walk on but for those who aren't prepared to lose anything and hold their loved one's safety with an iron fist then let's get to work.</div><div>The first concept we need to understand is that as humans we have an incredible gift, a gift which is a double edge blade in this situation. Humans are the only species who can believe in fictional stories, if I ask my Alaskan Malamute to give me back his bone and I will reward him with two bones later, that means absolutely nothing to him. If you ask a chimpanzee to believe certain ideologies and that when he passes, he will have all the bananas he could imagine, again that means nothing to him. Animals live for performance and survival, how can they perform and survive at their absolute best. At an instinctual and primal level, we have the same mindsets, mindsets which have had layers of fictional stories moulded over them. When looked at from an outside perspective, the majority of our lives are based on fictional stories, the idea of schooling, tax, border patrol and the internet, they are fictional stories we have made up to serve our modern way of thinking. I'm not to say they are good or bad; I am just instilling the understanding that they are not reality. Many of these fictional stories have served us well, but one giant setback it has caused is taking away our ability to think in the realms of survival. The way the brain works in terms placing importance and mental priority on tasks are the things that are most regular and common. We have school, work, and lifes jobs and we have become very good at them, the problem being when a life-threatening situation arises, our natural response is so rusty that even the concept of a survival situation is foreign to most.</div><div>Animals are supreme in the art of survival due to their daily need to practice that skill. We do not have that same daily need so in order to have the tools required to thrive when shit hits the fan in any situation; we need to implement strategies into our lives to develop these skill sets.</div><div>Modern humans have become incredibly good at outsourcing problems, a luxury in this world and not always a bad thing. The first downside to this comfort is the reliance we have developed on others, this way of thinking usually transfers into other aspects of life, making for a very dull blade. I'm in no way saying we should take the jobs of first responders and those who are trained better than us but possessing the mindset of self-reliance is a formidable asset. The second major problem and what history showcases are that in survival situations, first responders are usually too late and there are not enough emergency services to go around, again a very foreign concept to most.</div><div>I have a saying which is prepared not paranoid. We have all seen the preppers who have nine years of canned beans walking around with aluminum hats on; my thoughts are that will only bring paranoia and cannot provide an enjoyable quality of life. My philosophy is to understand the importance and concept of survival and the everyday risks my family and I face, to develop mindset strategies, skills and training to the point where they become a subconscious behaviour like crossing the road.</div><div>To have longevity with new behaviours, there needs to be an underlying importance and reason as to why. No one ever sustainably started running without placing a damn good importance on their reason as to why they were doing it, the same principle applies to implementing new survival strategies. For me, I never want to get caught with my pants down and have my family hurt or injured from something I could have prevented. My goal and purpose is to have the skills required to protect my family against whatever situation arises. Sounds easy? Being realistic, not in the world we live in.</div><div>Familiarity brings complacency. Let's skip back a few paragraphs to where we talked how the brain places importance on tasks, the same goes for whatever is most familiar to us is what we will inevitably become complacent with. We can train and be prepared for 40 years straight an not ever have to draw from that account, but we only have to be wrong once to lose everything in this world. Again, what are you prepared to let go off.</div><div>So we do we go from here? The way I see it we are at three crossroads. The first being, fine article but this is not for me. The second being, this is fricken amazing, I'm going to quit my job and take out a new mortgage to become prepared and build an underground bunker. The 3rd option is yes you make a good case, I see the importance of understanding survival and being prepared, I'm going to slowly and sustainably start implementing some new forms of training into my lifestyle. The first two options are about as bad as each other, but I see the 3rd option as the way to go from here.</div><div>When we cross the road, even though it is a somewhat dangerous task we don't sit down and make a risk assessment plan and go over how we are going to execute the mission, we just do it. When we were young, our parents taught us the importance of crossing the road safely, we have done it so many times that we just execute it as a subconscious action. I apply the same principle and way of thinking to develop these mindsets, skills, and knowledge. Taking on a new form of training that provides only one benefit has very little incentive, but if we can transfer the benefits across all aspects of life, then the importance goes up tenfold. My strategy is to implement microdoses of situational awareness, preparedness, and logical response training into all aspects of my life. The goal with these three skills is the same as a long-term savings account. Spend a small amount of time practicing these skills every day until they become the same as crossing a road. We hope we will never need to draw on them, but they will always be there accumulating interest and experience if a situation arises and we need to call on them.</div><div>Remember luck favours the prepared and success is always on the other side of hard work.</div><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/545182_e16a2a5dad9346f5b3b4cf9a211dc2b1~mv2_d_6000_4000_s_4_2.jpg"/></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Amphibious Strong Mans Workout</title><description><![CDATA[2 brothers testing their mental and physical limits.Health, survival, resilience, adaptability and mental resolve is not something you can be given or can buy, it is earned and is only ever found on the other side of hard work. Perception is a funny thing, one might perceive this as crazy or stupid. We perceive this as an opportunity to take the day by the balls, to add layers of resilience, boost the immune system, mitochondrial health, and testosterone levels, activating AMPK, and<img src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/HIjzls0TXr8/mqdefault.jpg"/>]]></description><dc:creator>Ben Logan</dc:creator><link>https://www.loganlore.co.nz/single-post/2017/10/12/Amphibious-Strong-Mans-Workout</link><guid>https://www.loganlore.co.nz/single-post/2017/10/12/Amphibious-Strong-Mans-Workout</guid><pubDate>Thu, 12 Oct 2017 04:56:54 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div>2 brothers testing their mental and physical limits.</div><div>Health, survival, resilience, adaptability and mental resolve is not something you can be given or can buy, it is earned and is only ever found on the other side of hard work. Perception is a funny thing, one might perceive this as crazy or stupid. We perceive this as an opportunity to take the day by the balls, to add layers of resilience, boost the immune system, mitochondrial health, and testosterone levels, activating AMPK, and autophagy.</div><div>Physically we all have incredible limits but through past experiences, our brains make up false layers which say &quot;this is probably enough, coffee and bagel time&quot; At least once a week I like to take to that barrier with a sledge hammer which is where our amphibious workout came in today. One person says crazy, my brother and I say &quot;what can we can achieve today and what other areas of life can we transfer the mental and physical benefits from this workout.</div><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HIjzls0TXr8"/></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Surviving Evolved Threats</title><description><![CDATA[Once again, the majority of the world whose hearts are full of love and compassion offer their deepest condolences to the victims and families of the latest terrorist act in London.It seems that radical groups are evolving and architecting new and harder to detect ways of waging terror against innocent civilians. In a time of absolute fear, sadness and uncertainty, I feel there is also an opportunity for growth and the development of new skills and mindsets which could possibly help protect from<img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/545182_69da045f4c394411b4e1295780b60ddb%7Emv2_d_5760_3840_s_4_2.jpg"/>]]></description><dc:creator>Ben Logan</dc:creator><link>https://www.loganlore.co.nz/single-post/2017/06/05/Surviving-Evolved-Threats</link><guid>https://www.loganlore.co.nz/single-post/2017/06/05/Surviving-Evolved-Threats</guid><pubDate>Mon, 05 Jun 2017 07:42:08 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div>Once again, the majority of the world whose hearts are full of love and compassion offer their deepest condolences to the victims and families of the latest terrorist act in London.</div><div>It seems that radical groups are evolving and architecting new and harder to detect ways of waging terror against innocent civilians. In a time of absolute fear, sadness and uncertainty, I feel there is also an opportunity for growth and the development of new skills and mindsets which could possibly help protect from future incidents and pay respect to fallen victims. Just as radical groups have evolved, we must also evolve to counteract potential threats and to protect against their cruel plans.</div><div>In times of such uncertainty, people often resort to the extreme end of the scale for protection and piece of mind. One of our most used motto's is to be prepared not paranoid. We teach people how to perform and survive at their absolute best in a modern world, why? we never want to get caught with our pants down or not be able to handle a situation. Three key areas that we teach, practice every day and live by are situational awareness, preparedness and logical response training, they are perhaps the most basic but by far the most important skill sets we feel people should harness and keep in their survival tool bag.</div><div>Situational Awareness is the ability to identify, process, and comprehend the critical elements of information about what is happening around you. The return on investment for this skills are a much higher sense of alertness and awareness which can be used not only to spot potential threats and dangers but is beneficial in all aspects of life.</div><div>Bad things do and statistically, will happen to good people, the first step in preparing is understanding this. Preparedness is a combination of understanding, mindset strategies and also practical applications such as everyday carry, planning and staying ahead of the game.</div><div>Logical response training is a mindset strategy and a form of training. History and scientific studies both show that in survival situations, most people have an emotional or instinctual response instead of a logical or calculated response. We have all had a situation where we respond in a certain way and think afterwards &quot;that was not clever&quot;. The jury is still out as to why we respond in this way but one part of the equation is that we are hard-wired to protect the species, not ourselves in a survival situation. A strategy and concept we use to train one's self to respond to a hostile or threatening situation in a logical way is through emotional bookmarking and developing new mental pathways to stress response.</div><div>Again, our most used motto is prepared not paranoid, this means our goal is to be prepared for any situation that arises not paranoid about threats or dangers. How is this done? instead of taking a leave of absence to spend six months survival training or taking out a new mortgage to hire a bodyguard, we apply these three techniques to not only survival scenarios but to all aspects of life. If we can obtain benefits from situational awareness, preparedness and logical response training in all areas including urban and wilderness survival, business and family life we will use these strategies more often. If we use them in minute amounts throughout the day instead of in a bulk training once a month these skills will get refined much faster and with less of a mental strain to the point where they will become a subconscious action. Every day we walk across a busy road, we don't think about the process involved and plan how we are going to execute it, we just do it subconsciously and safety.</div><div>The goal with these three skills is the same as a long-term savings account. Spend a small amount of time practising these skills every day until they become the same as crossing a road. We hope we will never need to draw on them but they will always be there accumulating interest and experience if a situation arises and we need to call on them.</div><div>Kia kaha London.</div><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/545182_69da045f4c394411b4e1295780b60ddb~mv2_d_5760_3840_s_4_2.jpg"/></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Environmental Conditioning</title><description><![CDATA[In the world of human physical performance, there is an incredible amount of knowledge and science in the realms of strength and conditioning. One of the beautiful aspects of evolutionary biology is that we can see when as a species we were arguably the healthiest, strongest and most robust.An area often left out of human performance is environmental conditioning. The modern day reasons for keeping in optimal physical shape are for sports performance, the health benefits and an intrinsic feeling<img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/545182_13ec731066eb4431b39698a54a446d9c%7Emv2_d_5760_3840_s_4_2.jpg"/>]]></description><dc:creator>Ben Logan</dc:creator><link>https://www.loganlore.co.nz/single-post/2017/02/22/Environmental-Conditioning</link><guid>https://www.loganlore.co.nz/single-post/2017/02/22/Environmental-Conditioning</guid><pubDate>Wed, 22 Feb 2017 03:50:56 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div>In the world of human physical performance, there is an incredible amount of knowledge and science in the realms of strength and conditioning. One of the beautiful aspects of evolutionary biology is that we can see when as a species we were arguably the healthiest, strongest and most robust.</div><div>An area often left out of human performance is environmental conditioning. The modern day reasons for keeping in optimal physical shape are for sports performance, the health benefits and an intrinsic feeling and understanding of the overall benefits from certain physical stressors. If we take a brief look back through our evolution the reasons were more a necessity rather than a choice, one had to have the explosive speed, strength and agility to survival and hunt animals. The main point of difference in human performance between now and then is the environmental conditions they had to thrive in.</div><div>Even though the human body has the ability to burn fat as a fuel source, most people would find it difficult to miss breakfast and lunch. That is a result of food being available at all times, poor macronutrient information and a lack of mainstream knowledge on the benefits of caloric restriction. The same can be said for environmental conditioning. The body has an incredible gift to regulate and keep its body temperature in a state of homeostasis through our thermoregulatory system. Even in extreme heat or cold, we are designed to thrive, the problem being the same as our lost ability to naturally burn fat as a fuel source when low on glycogen. If we do not stress and tonify our thermoregulatory system, then it atrophies and we lose our resilience.</div><div>Look at any major sporting event and you will see incredible feats of human performance. What you will also notice is that those athletes have a very controlled environment to perform in. The deeper I research and experiment the more I view a well-rounded athlete as one that can physically perform higher than others but also be able to do so in any environmental conditions.</div><div>The proven benefits of cold exposure are hard to ignore. The human body evolved under stress, we need hormetic stressors to thrive and the cold exposure training is just another string to add to the bow. The improved resilience to the cold, the evolutionary strength to be able to function and perform no matter what the conditions, the activation of brown fat, mitochondrial health and biogenesis, AMPK activation, the breakdown of biofilms and the benefits to circulation and cardiovascular health, to be the best and thrive, this is what I need.</div><div>All one needs to harness this strategy is to lose a jacket, take a bed sheet off, leave the fire off for the night, cold showers or lake swims and just like physical conditioning, build from there.</div><div>“With no challenge to overcome, frontier to press, or threat to flee from, the humans of this millennium are overstuffed, overheated, and under stimulated. ”  ― Scott Carney, What Doesn't Kill Us: How Freezing Water, Extreme Altitude, and Environmental Conditioning Will Renew Our Lost Evolutionary Strength</div><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/545182_13ec731066eb4431b39698a54a446d9c~mv2_d_5760_3840_s_4_2.jpg"/></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Intermittent Fasting &amp; Metabolic Efficiency. Adding Strings To The Bow</title><description><![CDATA[Building metabolic efficiency and the application of intermittent fasting for military personnel.I recently worked with a Gentleman who was serving in the Special Forces on the benefits of intermittent fasting and how it would be useful in a military role.Throughout my work, I have spoken and written much about the benefits of intermittent fasting as a general health practice. Before we get into the details and benefits we first need to have an understanding of our human physiology and its<img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/545182_dbcfa69795ea49ce8acc407da555a14d%7Emv2_d_5760_3840_s_4_2.jpg"/>]]></description><link>https://www.loganlore.co.nz/single-post/2017/02/22/Intermittent-Fasting-Metabolic-Efficiency-Adding-Strings-To-The-Bow</link><guid>https://www.loganlore.co.nz/single-post/2017/02/22/Intermittent-Fasting-Metabolic-Efficiency-Adding-Strings-To-The-Bow</guid><pubDate>Wed, 22 Feb 2017 03:35:27 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div>Building metabolic efficiency and the application of intermittent fasting for military personnel.</div><div>I recently worked with a Gentleman who was serving in the Special Forces on the benefits of intermittent fasting and how it would be useful in a military role.</div><div>Throughout my work, I have spoken and written much about the benefits of intermittent fasting as a general health practice. Before we get into the details and benefits we first need to have an understanding of our human physiology and its capabilities. </div><div>For perhaps 95% of our time on earth, humans have had a limited ability to source food and calories. Throughout most of our evolution, our options were wild plants, fruits and hunting animals as a tribe. The food was available but the option to feast was not as much of a regular occurrence as it is now in our modern society. The highs and lows between feasting and fasting left the human body with an innate, very clever physiological design of being able to use body fat stores as a fuel source when low on glycogen stored in the muscles and liver.</div><div>Over the years there have been countless amounts of research showcasing the benefits of the correct use of intermittent fasting. The activation of AMPK ( adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase ) has proven its role in life extension and its reduction is degenerative diseases like diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease and neuro degenerative disorders. When this gene is activated, so is the process of autophagy. Think of it as our body’s innate waste disposal system. This involves the cells breaking down and metabolising broken and dysfunctional proteins that build up inside cells over time. Other benefits have proven to be improved insulin sensitivity, human growth hormone and testosterone increase, gene repair and regulation, reducing oxidative stress and inflammation on the body, gut repair, mitochondrial health. </div><div>As mentioned earlier, our ancestors called intermittent fasting a way of life, they feasted when they had the means to and they survived the fast in between by their ability to burn fat as a fuel source. Fast forward to now and we have the option to eat all day, every day which means we need to call intermittent fasting a health strategy.</div><div>Metabolic efficiency is a term used to measure how well one's body uses fat as an energy source, just as we would understand if we were to run a marathon we would get the best result if we trained appropriately for it, to become efficient at fat burning we must also train our body to do so and incorporate it in our everyday groundwork. If we had one job which was to keep the fire burning well over night we would know that throwing small kindling (fast releasing carbohydrates) on the fire would not last, we would understand that building the fire up to have large hot coals which is the analogy I am using for building metabolic efficiency and then using a large slow burning log would be our best chance for sustained fire. The same example applies to us and the way we burn fuel. Through science and experimentation, intermittent fasting and a carbohydrate appropriate diet is a powerful way to build metabolic efficiency.</div><div>The scenario: Trapped behind enemy lines and food rations have run out.</div><div>For military on patrol or on missions, specific gear is essential. That gear also comes with a great weight, the more food or calories that is carried means less room for ammo or other vital equipment. For a unit which has run out of food rations and may be trapped behind enemy lines, is under physical duress or has a long distance to cover on foot, a lack or calories pose a real danger and will make the above tasks much harder.</div><div>When one is well adapted to burning fat, a lack of outside calories is more than manageable. There may be a dull hunger and a want to eat but due to the ketone bodies that are being produced, they will have sustained physical energy and be able to keep mental focus and clarity for lengthy periods of time. For anyone who is not well adapted to burning fat and goes under caloric restriction, they will know that the above benefits are basically the opposite. A lack of physical energy and foggy mental judgment in this situation could have deadly results. As Doc Emerson would say &quot;you can't take a 1960's mustang which hasn't been started in years out of the garage and expect her to run well.</div><div>Life presents itself with challenges where food may not be an option. I want to have the ability to thrive in those situations and have the added health benefits which is why the correct use of intermittent fasting and appropriate nutrition are a key fundamental in my daily routine.</div><div>“When the battle drum beats, it is too late to sharpen your sword.” Winston Churchill.</div><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/545182_dbcfa69795ea49ce8acc407da555a14d~mv2_d_5760_3840_s_4_2.jpg"/></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The Cold Water Scenario</title><description><![CDATA[The scenario: We go for a 3-day hike deep in the Southern Alps, it is heading into winter time and will be cold but we plan appropriately and take adequate supplies and clothing. A river crossing presents itself and we decide we can safely cross in a particular spot. I roll my ankle, fall in and Greg makes the decision to jump in to grab my pack and swim me to the side of the river. My pack gets snagged on a branch and unless we loose the pack we are both going under. We manage to swim to the<img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/545182_16bc619d884e40a198f944b0dc401624%7Emv2_d_5601_3734_s_4_2.jpg"/>]]></description><dc:creator>Ben Logan</dc:creator><link>https://www.loganlore.co.nz/single-post/2017/02/04/The-Cold-Water-Scenario</link><guid>https://www.loganlore.co.nz/single-post/2017/02/04/The-Cold-Water-Scenario</guid><pubDate>Sat, 04 Feb 2017 08:22:38 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div>The scenario: We go for a 3-day hike deep in the Southern Alps, it is heading into winter time and will be cold but we plan appropriately and take adequate supplies and clothing. A river crossing presents itself and we decide we can safely cross in a particular spot. I roll my ankle, fall in and Greg makes the decision to jump in to grab my pack and swim me to the side of the river. My pack gets snagged on a branch and unless we loose the pack we are both going under. We manage to swim to the side but we are now soaked, have limited supplies and its near dark, we are in a very dangerous position. Each year there are countless reports of hypothermia from plans going wrong in the wilderness.</div><div>In the above scenario, apart from our mindset and the obvious bushcraft skills we could use to better our situation our bodies resilience to the cold and our thermoregulatory system are our best chance of survival. A key aspect of our course we taught in the weekend was how to incorporate cold water immersion into one's training leading into an adventure. The goal here is to build resilience towards harsh environmental conditions so if a situation presented itself where the cold was a major player, one's chance of survival would be much greater.</div><div>Apart from the benefits from a survival point of view, we also taught the incredible health benefits from this practice which we summarised in the big 5.</div><div>Improved resilience towards stress and disease Conversion of white fat to brown fat Mitochondrial health Immune stimulation Cardiovascular health and improved circulation</div><div>With thousands of years of ancestral knowledge backed by science showcasing the benefits of cold water immersion, we still fall back on the wisdom of Sioux warriors who had an intrinsic understanding of what was needed to have incredible health, strength and resilience. They understood the importance of hormesis, benefits gained by short termed stressors. Cold water immersion just like caloric restriction and exercise are stressors that the human body needs in order to thrive.</div><div>&quot;In order to develop the resilience necessary to endure these ups and downs and “prepare the body for the extraordinary exertions that it might, at any moment, be required to undergo,” the Sioux intentionally trained for toughness: fasts from food and water were undertaken even when there was plenty to eat and drink, ice baths were regularly taken, and hard exercise was kept up continually. The Sioux placed such a heavy emphasis on physical activity, because they felt that building a young man’s fitness not only strengthened his body, but developed his ability to live a life of moral virtue and self-mastery&quot;. Charles Alexander Eastman, Santee Sioux</div><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/545182_16bc619d884e40a198f944b0dc401624~mv2_d_5601_3734_s_4_2.jpg"/></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Ancient Genes, Modern Thinking</title><description><![CDATA[In the last 10,000 years, Homo Sapiens have managed to conquer some jaw dropping feats of innovation. From the Pyramids to the New York skyline, the evolution of what our species has been able to create knows no limits, and to think it all started with planting a seed.About 10,000 years ago in Mesopotamia, the first hunter gatherers discovered the art of cultivating crops and domesticating animals, this was the start of the Neolithic Revolution. From that point on, populations began to grow<img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/545182_1903d5e458194c36af35bdabe3e2ab19%7Emv2_d_6000_4000_s_4_2.jpg"/>]]></description><dc:creator>Ben Logan</dc:creator><link>https://www.loganlore.co.nz/single-post/2017/02/04/Ancient-Genes-Modern-Thinking</link><guid>https://www.loganlore.co.nz/single-post/2017/02/04/Ancient-Genes-Modern-Thinking</guid><pubDate>Sat, 04 Feb 2017 08:15:53 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div>In the last 10,000 years, Homo Sapiens have managed to conquer some jaw dropping feats of innovation. From the Pyramids to the New York skyline, the evolution of what our species has been able to create knows no limits, and to think it all started with planting a seed.</div><div>About 10,000 years ago in Mesopotamia, the first hunter gatherers discovered the art of cultivating crops and domesticating animals, this was the start of the Neolithic Revolution. From that point on, populations began to grow crops and from there civilizations began to form around the crops. This meant people had surpluses of food, and from there people had governance and ownership of food. Classes of society rose and trade then began and you can see how that has evolved to where we are now.</div><div>From planting the first seeds to the complexity of our modern society today, we have achieved a staggering amount in 10,000 years, which brings me to pointing out a very big problem with the psychology of our modern society vs the health of our modern society.</div><div>A very large and damaging misconception that the modern human has it that we believe because we have become so technologically advanced compared to 10,000 years ago, we assume our biology has evolved in the same manner. The science is showing that in fact the human genome was shaped by our ancestral lifestyle, although there has been some genetic adaptations since the agricultural revolution, genomic sweeps from around the planet show that we are pretty much the same as we were 60,000 years ago when we left Africa.</div><div>The way we perceive something is an incredibly powerful tool towards the way we find a solution for something. Currently we have the largest health epidemic our species has ever faced and although the advancement of our society continues to grow, the health of our society can only suggest that we are maladapted to our current environment and are stone agers living in space. To name just a few of the inputs, the human genome was shaped and evolved in ways such as; hormesis or periods of intermittent stress which the body could recover from, saturated fat, animal meats and medicinally rich plant food high in phytochemical's and stress activated nutrients. Compare that to today's society and the inputs we provide ourselves with now, it is incredibly black and white and easy to see where some major problems have developed.</div><div>The beauty of the position we are currently in is that we have the opportunity with science to understand our ancestral biology and live in accordance with the human rule book whilst still living in the advanced, modern society we have created for ourselveas.</div><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/545182_1903d5e458194c36af35bdabe3e2ab19~mv2_d_6000_4000_s_4_2.jpg"/></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Situational Awareness</title><description><![CDATA[Situational Awareness is the ability to identify, process, and comprehend the critical elements of information about what is happening around you. It's a skill we see as invaluable and are always trying to hone. Once tapped into, it's a skill that can be used to avoid danger in public, spot wild foods or identify potential dangers in the wilderness before they ruin your adventure.A gentleman on one of our courses asked me about ways I develop my situational awareness, I said “my main lessons<img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/545182_434d09dc8fff4299a113e09305d2bbd2%7Emv2_d_5616_3744_s_4_2.jpg"/>]]></description><dc:creator>Ben Logan</dc:creator><link>https://www.loganlore.co.nz/single-post/2017/02/04/Situational-Awareness</link><guid>https://www.loganlore.co.nz/single-post/2017/02/04/Situational-Awareness</guid><pubDate>Sat, 04 Feb 2017 08:04:24 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div>Situational Awareness is the ability to identify, process, and comprehend the critical elements of information about what is happening around you. It's a skill we see as invaluable and are always trying to hone. Once tapped into, it's a skill that can be used to avoid danger in public, spot wild foods or identify potential dangers in the wilderness before they ruin your adventure.</div><div>A gentleman on one of our courses asked me about ways I develop my situational awareness, I said “my main lessons come from my Alaskan Malamute” Maska. Food and protection of his pack are the only things of importance to him, for him to achieve that he needs a particular skill set. He is always 10 steps ahead of us (literally), always observant and scanning his environment, always tuned into his senses. His instincts and behaviours don't always go well with living around people or other animals so in turn I must develop great awareness of my surroundings to avoid him getting into trouble. I'm not suggesting we all study the behaviour of wolves and follow their lead but there is a lot to be learnt from animals as without that vital skill they usually end up on someone else's dinner plate.</div><div>“The life of the American Indian was a satisfying but precarious one. Natural and human dangers abounded. To watch for these threats, the Sioux selected certain men to serve as two types of scouts — one for hunting and one for war. Part of the job of the latter was to secrete themselves just outside the tribe’s village at night and listen and watch for potential enemies in the darkness; Eastman describes these nocturnal scouts as having been so trained as to rival an owl or a cat in their ability to see in the dark.” Be ever alert, but not paranoid or fearful Charles Eastman, Ohiyesa</div><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/545182_434d09dc8fff4299a113e09305d2bbd2~mv2_d_5616_3744_s_4_2.jpg"/></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Earthquake Survival Course</title><description><![CDATA[In any emergency, if we can, we should stop and think. But in some emergencies, there is no time. So we rely on instinct.The problem is that instinct is designed to save the species, not necessarily the individual. That's why the first time I know one of my goats is sick, its because they have separated themselves from the herd. That protects the herd but puts the goat at great risk from wild dogs. It's also why many divers who have died in a diving accident are found without their regulators in<img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/545182_5b53f898aabd41a5ade3b9eed375ba7a%7Emv2_d_5760_3840_s_4_2.jpg"/>]]></description><dc:creator>Ben Logan</dc:creator><link>https://www.loganlore.co.nz/single-post/2017/02/04/Earthquake-Survival-Course</link><guid>https://www.loganlore.co.nz/single-post/2017/02/04/Earthquake-Survival-Course</guid><pubDate>Sat, 04 Feb 2017 07:59:08 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div>In any emergency, if we can, we should stop and think. But in some emergencies, there is no time. So we rely on instinct.</div><div>The problem is that instinct is designed to save the species, not necessarily the individual. That's why the first time I know one of my goats is sick, its because they have separated themselves from the herd. That protects the herd but puts the goat at great risk from wild dogs. It's also why many divers who have died in a diving accident are found without their regulators in their mouths.</div><div>Instinct tells us that if we are having trouble breathing to remove things from our mouth. Usually a good idea, but in these cases, a disaster.</div><div>The adrenaline and cortisol response from acute stress also sharpens our response by allowing us to focus solely on one thing...our instinct. But if our instinct saves the species rather than the individual...</div><div>So the answer is to practice and train. That inserts what we call &quot;emotional bookmarks&quot; </div><div>Emotional bookmarks mean that we can bend the instinct to be useful in a situation without thinking. Because we have done it time and time again.</div><div>That's why Ben Logan, Bel Jones and Charles Griffith and I spent our weekend in Christchurch teaching 3 large groups of enthusiastic people how to train for emergencies. We covered practical emergency first aid specific to earthquakes, the survival mindset (who makes it in an emergency and who doesn't) and resilience training. We have learnt from the recent asthma deaths in Melbourne that in a large emergency, assistance may be delayed.</div><div>Train and practice. Be the hardest working person in the room, Be courageous. Never give up. Adapt and survive.  You are NEVER out of the fight.</div><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/545182_5b53f898aabd41a5ade3b9eed375ba7a~mv2_d_5760_3840_s_4_2.jpg"/></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Ride In The Saddle</title><description><![CDATA[Why do we place such an importance on the work we do and practice what we preach? because we never want to get caught with our pants down. We plan for the worst and hope for the best. Does this mean we are paranoid and spend 5 hours of our day prepping? far from it. We take aspects of our daily routine and modify them in a way that greatly benefits our health and allows us to thrive in a survival situation.Every day we need fuel, fuel yourself in a way that builds metabolic efficiency, allows us<img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/545182_6ce4f146b74540639a133a22b5ba3bbc%7Emv2_d_6000_4000_s_4_2.jpg"/>]]></description><dc:creator>Ben Logan</dc:creator><link>https://www.loganlore.co.nz/single-post/2017/02/04/Riding-In-The-Saddle</link><guid>https://www.loganlore.co.nz/single-post/2017/02/04/Riding-In-The-Saddle</guid><pubDate>Sat, 04 Feb 2017 07:53:01 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div>Why do we place such an importance on the work we do and practice what we preach? because we never want to get caught with our pants down. We plan for the worst and hope for the best. Does this mean we are paranoid and spend 5 hours of our day prepping? far from it. We take aspects of our daily routine and modify them in a way that greatly benefits our health and allows us to thrive in a survival situation.</div><div>Every day we need fuel, fuel yourself in a way that builds metabolic efficiency, allows us to go for long periods without food if need be whilst a the same time promoting incredible health.</div><div>Every day we need movement and exercise, do it in a way that maximises our physiological potential and builds functional strength and endurance. Far more tools in your survival tool bag whilst promoting optimal health.</div><div>Every day we need to plan, strategize and react to outside problems or influences, learn mental strategies such as stop, think, orientate and plan and start building a bank account of emotional bookmarks which can be used and applied effectively across situations from a business meeting to health problem to a survival situation.</div><div>To have great health you need to be a survivor, to be a survivor you must have great health.</div><div>“To survive, you must develop secondary emotions that function in a strategic balance with reason.”  Laurence Gonzales, Deep Survival: Who Lives, Who Dies, and Why</div><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/545182_6ce4f146b74540639a133a22b5ba3bbc~mv2_d_6000_4000_s_4_2.jpg"/></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Emotional Bookmarking</title><description><![CDATA[When placed under duress from an unpredictable situation we cannot control, our actions to follow comes from 2 places; our instincts and previous behaviours formed from similar experiences.On our survival courses, we teach that in a hostile or dangerous situation our instincts will usually enforce a very primal reflex which is not always the best course of action. Many diving victims are found with their regulator out of their mouth, their survival is challenged, their instincts kick in and a<img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/545182_6f6239fac48e4a9895209c148c88ee79%7Emv2_d_2048_1365_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_626%2Ch_417/545182_6f6239fac48e4a9895209c148c88ee79%7Emv2_d_2048_1365_s_2.jpg"/>]]></description><dc:creator>Ben Logan</dc:creator><link>https://www.loganlore.co.nz/single-post/2017/02/04/Emotional-Bookmarking</link><guid>https://www.loganlore.co.nz/single-post/2017/02/04/Emotional-Bookmarking</guid><pubDate>Sat, 04 Feb 2017 07:48:20 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div>When placed under duress from an unpredictable situation we cannot control, our actions to follow comes from 2 places; our instincts and previous behaviours formed from similar experiences.</div><div>On our survival courses, we teach that in a hostile or dangerous situation our instincts will usually enforce a very primal reflex which is not always the best course of action. Many diving victims are found with their regulator out of their mouth, their survival is challenged, their instincts kick in and a primal reflex says to clear the airway of the regulator, again not the best course of action.</div><div>Before Christmas, I had the pleasure of working with the Sydney Roosters. The goal was to build communication and comradery under extreme physical, mental and emotional duress for 36 hours. They had no idea of details regarding the 36-hour challenge so in the early stages many of them naturally defaulted to an instinctual defence mode protecting themselves instead of the team which only caused a breakdown in communication and working as a unit. Emotional bookmarks and creating new mental pathways were vital in successfully completing this mission as a team. As soon as a player's individual needs were challenged and they deferred from working as a unit, we had strict motivational consequences so firstly they would recognise the action then re correct their mindset.</div><div>Very shortly after working with the team and solidifying new mental pathways to achieve the desired goal under the conditions they were given, they went from working as a rusty chain due to the extreme hardship they were under to working as a perfect unit with flawless communication and care for each other. In their world, that equals a perfect team.</div><div>In any area of our health and resilience, every day we are faced with situations that will set us back a step or take us forward a step. In many cases, the answer lies with how we mentally respond to that situation. Forging new emotional bookmarks and mental pathways designed to push in the direction to thrive instead of defaulting to a negative setting is a key in anyone's overall health strategy.</div><div>“To survive, you must develop secondary emotions that function in a strategic balance with reason.”  ― Laurence Gonzales, Deep Survival: Who Lives, Who Dies, and Why</div><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/545182_6f6239fac48e4a9895209c148c88ee79~mv2_d_2048_1365_s_2.jpg"/></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Stress Activated Food Nutrients</title><description><![CDATA[We work off a 100% sphere that makes up performance. Nutrition could be 40%, movement could be 30%, sleep perhaps 30% etc, you get the idea.Within the areas of nutrition, we see wild foods as fundamental bedrock. Not so much the idea of running around at night wearing a balaclava grabbing free food from others lawn's but understanding the difference between wild foods and conventionally grown food and the effects that difference has. We think of the body as a giant sensor that adapts to specific<img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/545182_b41a0bf196ac4b2ea17db2457cbf6fd5.jpg"/>]]></description><dc:creator>Ben Logan</dc:creator><link>https://www.loganlore.co.nz/single-post/2017/02/04/Stress-Activated-Food-Nutrients</link><guid>https://www.loganlore.co.nz/single-post/2017/02/04/Stress-Activated-Food-Nutrients</guid><pubDate>Sat, 04 Feb 2017 07:37:06 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div>We work off a 100% sphere that makes up performance. Nutrition could be 40%, movement could be 30%, sleep perhaps 30% etc, you get the idea.</div><div>Within the areas of nutrition, we see wild foods as fundamental bedrock. Not so much the idea of running around at night wearing a balaclava grabbing free food from others lawn's but understanding the difference between wild foods and conventionally grown food and the effects that difference has. We think of the body as a giant sensor that adapts to specific inputs, our job is to find out the best quality inputs that the human body is attuned to.</div><div>I spent the last few days in Central Otago, wild thyme country. Whilst walking through the hills and thinking about how harsh these mountains are I was reminded of how strong and resilient these plants must be. You can always find Thyme in my pack. Thymol, the active compound in Thyme is responsible for its incredible antimicrobial properties as well as it's respiratory, immune system, powerful antioxidant levels, heart health and circulatory benefits.</div><div>One area that captivates me with wild foods is their stress-activated food nutrients. One may see these pictures and say what a beautiful but barren landscape. I see this pictures and say the exact same thing but understand that any wild plants able to survive such hostile environments which would have endured cold/heat shock, lack of water and fertilisation will contain high levels of stress-activated nutrients. Certain wild plants contain nutrients in which their function is to protect the plant from environmental stressors and to ensure the plant's survival. This compound contained in wild plants called stress-activated food nutrients have the ability to do the exact same process when we consume them having a hormetic effect on the body, triggering the same gene as when we exercise and fast, giving our body the signal to adapt and improve whilst at the same time giving us a layer of antimicrobial and medicinal defence.</div><div>&quot;I have dedicated my life to plants,&quot; says the white explorer searching for a sacred healing plant to the amazonian Sharman &quot;that's the most sensible thing I have ever heard a white man say&quot; says the amazonian Sharman. Embrace of the serpent.</div><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/545182_b41a0bf196ac4b2ea17db2457cbf6fd5.jpg"/></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Intermittent Fasting As A Survival Tool</title><description><![CDATA[Today we talk about intermittent fasting, not for its health and longevity benefits, but as an incredible weapon to keep in our survival tool bag. For most people, the idea of going into the wilderness and being forced to navigate harsh terrain and travel long periods without food is an idea that would put a deep fear into most.We often talk about hormesis and how well the human body is designed to go through periods of adaptable stress, so why are we so afraid of going without food in a<img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/545182_0667c1a90133466488939738794e6692%7Emv2_d_5760_3840_s_4_2.jpg"/>]]></description><dc:creator>Ben Logan</dc:creator><link>https://www.loganlore.co.nz/single-post/2017/02/04/Survival-Tool-Intermittent-Fasting</link><guid>https://www.loganlore.co.nz/single-post/2017/02/04/Survival-Tool-Intermittent-Fasting</guid><pubDate>Sat, 04 Feb 2017 07:33:45 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div>Today we talk about intermittent fasting, not for its health and longevity benefits, but as an incredible weapon to keep in our survival tool bag. For most people, the idea of going into the wilderness and being forced to navigate harsh terrain and travel long periods without food is an idea that would put a deep fear into most.</div><div>We often talk about hormesis and how well the human body is designed to go through periods of adaptable stress, so why are we so afraid of going without food in a survival situation like a river crossing going wrong which results in loosing a pack which contained food supplies or getting lost meaning spending more time in the wild than our food provisions allocated for? There is a massive disconnect between our physiological ability to use fat as a fuel source and the modern human who is well conditioned to overeating and relying on fast releasing carbohydrates as a fuel source.</div><div>If we had one job which was to keep the fire burning well over night we would know that throwing small kindling on the fire would not last, we would understand that building the fire up to have large hot coals which is the analogy I am using for building metabolic efficiency and then using a large slow burning log would be our best chance for sustained fire. The same example applies to us and the way we burn fuel.</div><div>One of the most common problems people run into when faced with a survival situation is the cold which we extensively cover in the theory and practical and a lack of food which usually leads the person to make bad survival decisions and results in poor mental morale which is imperative in any survival situation.</div><div>Metabolic efficiency is a term used to measure how well one's body uses fat as an energy source, just as we would understand if we were to run a marathon we would get the best result if we trained appropriately for it, to become efficient at fat burning we must also train our body to do so and incorporate it into our bushcraft and survival training. The ability to burn fat as a fuel source is an incredible string to add to any adventurers bow. Soon we will have some short videos explaining how we can practice and implement intermittent fasting and fat burning into our wilderness and survival training.</div><div>“Everyone who dies out there dies of confusion.”  ― Laurence Gonzales, Deep Survival: Who Lives, Who Dies, and Why</div><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/545182_0667c1a90133466488939738794e6692~mv2_d_5760_3840_s_4_2.jpg"/></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>AMPK, Gene Expression</title><description><![CDATA[To build the Eiffel tower you can't start at the top and work your way down, you need a rock solid foundation capable of handling the load above. I use the same principles in the design and construction of my own life, solidify the foundations and work upwards.One of those key foundations I always keep in check of is my gene expression. One may say I'm slightly obsessive when it come to having a clean house, I enjoy it and it gives me a clear head which enables me to be more productive. The same<img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/545182_2bfda199b6064e95840a99ad843995ac%7Emv2_d_5760_3840_s_4_2.jpg"/>]]></description><dc:creator>Ben Logan</dc:creator><link>https://www.loganlore.co.nz/single-post/2017/02/04/AMPK-Gene-Expression-1</link><guid>https://www.loganlore.co.nz/single-post/2017/02/04/AMPK-Gene-Expression-1</guid><pubDate>Sat, 04 Feb 2017 07:28:16 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div>To build the Eiffel tower you can't start at the top and work your way down, you need a rock solid foundation capable of handling the load above. I use the same principles in the design and construction of my own life, solidify the foundations and work upwards.</div><div>One of those key foundations I always keep in check of is my gene expression. One may say I'm slightly obsessive when it come to having a clean house, I enjoy it and it gives me a clear head which enables me to be more productive. The same applies for my cells, I don't allow environmental or degenerative waste build up to occur as I know it won't lead down a good path.</div><div>Cells can be expressed or atrophied depending on the information we provide them with. I personally want them to be expressed the way they are biologically designed to do. AMPK ( adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase ) is a gene which has come under much scientific study of recent years for its role in life extension and its reduction is degenerative diseases like diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease and neuro degenerative disorders. When this gene is activated, so is the process of autophagy. Think of it as our body’s innate recycling program. Autophagy makes us more efficient machines to get rid of faulty parts, stop cancerous growths, and stop metabolic dysfunction like obesity and diabetes. “Your cells create membranes that hunt out scraps of dead, diseased, or worn-out cells; gobble them up; strip ’em for parts; and use the resulting molecules for energy or to make new cell parts.”</div><div>Even though there is a lot of discovery still to be made in these areas, there have been several scientifically proven way to activate the AMPK gene: through the correct use of intermittent fasting and through the use of stress-activated nutrients from Gynostemma and Berberine, alkaloids from 2 wild plants commonly available.</div><div>To survive in life I need to perform, to perform in life I need to survive.</div><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/545182_2bfda199b6064e95840a99ad843995ac~mv2_d_5760_3840_s_4_2.jpg"/></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Threat Assessment &amp; Survival Plan</title><description><![CDATA[Where I live, the main threats for me and my family are natural disasters (high threat), dangerous overseas drivers (high threat) and unpredictable overseas travellers (low to medium threat). There are and always will be threats and dangers outside of those but they are the main three which pose the most danger to myself and my family and which I base my threat assessment and survival plan off.Making a personal threat assessment requires a bit of thought and research of threats that occur in<img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/545182_bf61670fe6ee43faa36979eaf64c3e42%7Emv2_d_5760_3840_s_4_2.jpg"/>]]></description><dc:creator>Ben Logan</dc:creator><link>https://www.loganlore.co.nz/single-post/2017/02/04/Threat-Assessment-and-Survival-Plan</link><guid>https://www.loganlore.co.nz/single-post/2017/02/04/Threat-Assessment-and-Survival-Plan</guid><pubDate>Sat, 04 Feb 2017 06:57:14 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div>Where I live, the main threats for me and my family are natural disasters (high threat), dangerous overseas drivers (high threat) and unpredictable overseas travellers (low to medium threat). There are and always will be threats and dangers outside of those but they are the main three which pose the most danger to myself and my family and which I base my threat assessment and survival plan off.</div><div>Making a personal threat assessment requires a bit of thought and research of threats that occur in your geographical area. In urban environments threats may come from hostile people, in some areas wildfires or flooding may be the threat. We live in a high-risk earthquake area and have many overseas travellers who do not have the skills required to handle the roads safely.</div><div>A survival plan is basically a detailed mental and written plan of how you respond to those threats short and long term, how you use/mobilise your assets and limit your liabilities. Again your survival plan is dependent on threats prominent in your area. Firstly my survival plan is a mental reflex based of emotional bookmarking and experience in those areas, its no point having the most detailed written plan if you don't have the skills to react to the threat instantly. If an earthquake hits I need to know how to respond immediately to get my family to safety then I can go back to my survival plan and take stock of my assets and liabilities.</div><div>I have 3 levels regarding my survival plan.</div><div>1: Everyday carry. Items which I have on my person at all times. Phone, money, folding knife, watch, torch, para cord, tactical pen, tough footwear (even in the middle of summer, try running over debris or from a car crash in bare feet, sandals)</div><div>2: Survival bag in the truck. Assets I can usually reach quickly if needed. Jerry can with water, a few blankets, small axe, warm jacket, first aid kit, some food, large knife, rope and tactical gloves, day pack, torch and head torch, fire starting kit. All of these items are in a small box in the back of the truck, take up very little room and I hardly notice them.</div><div>3: Survival items at home (left in the sturdiest part of the house). Water and non-perishable food supplies, axe, machete, knife, first aid kit, blankets, fire starting kit, warm waterproof clothes, tarps, torch and headlamp, rope, large pack. I also have a solid understanding of emergency first aid, have the means to catch wild game and a deep knowledge of wild foods.</div><div>The idea behind making these assessments and plans is not to be paranoid, the idea is to be prepared based on realistic threats in your area. A consistent thought I have is that the detrimental effects of not being prepared and needing it, possibly having life-long consequences far outway the minimum effort required to make a basic threat assessment and survival plan. After the very small time investment required to make these plans, the benefits can be life-saving. I don't want to just survive, I want to thrive.</div><div>“To survive, you must develop secondary emotions that function in a strategic balance with reason.”  ― Laurence Gonzales, Deep Survival: Who Lives, Who Dies, and Why</div><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/545182_bf61670fe6ee43faa36979eaf64c3e42~mv2_d_5760_3840_s_4_2.jpg"/></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The wolf and the warrior</title><description><![CDATA[When you domesticate a wolf you take away their strength and resilience. It weakens the animal and subjects it to degeneration that it would not have experienced otherwise in its wild environment and expressing its normal behaviours dictated by the laws of nature.The exact same thing occurs when you take species of wild plants and domesticate them to fit the needs of a modern society. Like the wolf, wild plant's job is to survive in harsh environments and as a result, they develop incredible<img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/545182_97bf944153384ff095c9c731e8b04481%7Emv2_d_3840_5760_s_4_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_288%2Ch_431/545182_97bf944153384ff095c9c731e8b04481%7Emv2_d_3840_5760_s_4_2.jpg"/>]]></description><dc:creator>Ben Logan</dc:creator><link>https://www.loganlore.co.nz/single-post/2017/02/04/The-wolf-and-the-warrior</link><guid>https://www.loganlore.co.nz/single-post/2017/02/04/The-wolf-and-the-warrior</guid><pubDate>Sat, 04 Feb 2017 06:51:45 +0000</pubDate><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><div>When you domesticate a wolf you take away their strength and resilience. It weakens the animal and subjects it to degeneration that it would not have experienced otherwise in its wild environment and expressing its normal behaviours dictated by the laws of nature.</div><div>The exact same thing occurs when you take species of wild plants and domesticate them to fit the needs of a modern society. Like the wolf, wild plant's job is to survive in harsh environments and as a result, they develop incredible strength and resilience. The wolf can bite, wild plants cannot so their evolutionary defence mechanism is to develop toxic compounds to protect against prey. As we have spoken about many times on this page, some of those plant based chemicals in small doses have a tonic or medicinal properties and when used correctly have tremendous benefits on the body.</div><div>When you domesticate a wolf you take away their wildness properties, when you domesticate wild plants you do the same process, resulting in the loss of the bitter flavours which are the phytochemicals and medicine we have thrived of for hundreds of thousands of years.</div><div>Little research has been done on the effects of generations living of highly domesticated food so that call is for yourself to make. However, there has been much research done on the health of domesticating other species with the effects being very obvious.</div><div>To be a warrior you need the right information and the correct use wild plants are perhaps the most important foundation of our performance and survival. If conventional foods don't contain the vitamins and minerals, phytochemical's and stress-activated nutrients we need to thrive off, then we do what every other highly successful animal does, we adapt, overcome and find our own.</div><div>A proven warrior is at all times clean, courteous and master of himself.&quot; Wapasha, Sioux Chief</div><img src="http://static.wixstatic.com/media/545182_97bf944153384ff095c9c731e8b04481~mv2_d_3840_5760_s_4_2.jpg"/></div>]]></content:encoded></item></channel></rss>