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Jeana Anderson Cohen:I love keeping up with friends online. And one friend in particular I've kept a close eye on has been posting daily about a year long challenge to move every single day. Oh, and by the way, this is the Sweat Life's podcast. We got goals and I'm Gina Anderson Cohen. And joining me today is Gideon Akande who is a two times Chicago Golden Gloves champion. That is a mouthful and also a big accomplishment. And national winner. of Men's Health Next Top Trainer Competition. He creates online workouts that you should absolutely try that are both live and on demand. He's also gotten a ton of love from media outlets. He's all over the place. And I've loved watching Gideon as he posts about Project 365, his challenge to take on 365 consecutive days of movement. Gideon, thanks for joining me.Gideon:Gino, what's up? I'm glad to be chatting with you, friend.Jeana Anderson Cohen:I know. We get to see each other actually kind of a lot these days, which is lovely.Gideon:Yes, it's been very nice, more frequently, regularly for sure.Jeana Anderson Cohen:Yeah, what a year. What a great year. But before we jump in, at us, what life we start every single day by sharing one good thing. So Gideon, what is one good thing?Gideon:There are a lot of good things. You just gotta look sometimes, but also sometimes they're just kind of glaring and your face. And my one good thing is my baby boy Samuel, who is 15 months old, who is walking and now formulating words andJeana Anderson Cohen:OhGideon:soundsJeana Anderson Cohen:my gosh.Gideon:and little baby sign languageJeana Anderson Cohen:I'm sorry.Gideon:and making all of the milestones, which is really, really fun and really exciting to see as I continue this new chapter of my life as a father.Jeana Anderson Cohen:But I've also seen him get involved in this challenge too, which has beenGideon:I'm sorry.Jeana Anderson Cohen:so cute. Oh man, I need to meet this baby still. Okay, that's a conversationGideon:Sooner than later.Jeana Anderson Cohen:for another time.Gideon:We'llJeana Anderson Cohen:Yeah.Gideon:make that happen. I'm going to go ahead and turn it off.Jeana Anderson Cohen:Okay, my good thing is I was telling you right before we started recording, I'm not feeling super great today. So I went to restore hyper wellness and I got an IV to help me feel better. I'm not hungover, but I just always find that IVs tend to help. Let's see, get those vitamins into my. belly.Gideon:100%. You're taking the reactive yet proactive approach to getting back on track. So good for you. Hopefully youJeana Anderson Cohen:Yeah.Gideon:feel better soon.Jeana Anderson Cohen:Oh, thank you. Okay, I want to hear all about this challenge. Can you tell us the rules of Project 365?Gideon:Rules, wow, rules make it seem just unfun.Jeana Anderson Cohen:Hahaha!Gideon:What I essentially set up were some parameters, if you will,Jeana Anderson Cohen:parameters.Gideon:or maybe even let's call them some guidelines, I just had to, just to assist me, and they're very, very loose. And Project 365 essentially started at the beginning of this year, 2023, or should I call it late last year, so I can jumpstart into the year withJeana Anderson Cohen:Mm-hmm.Gideon:a mindset of moving every single day. Now that can seem very, very daunting. and almost impossible if you're looking at it from a macro perspective. But what I wanted to do is make sure that I was staying on track of my wellness, finding ways to move my body and honor it through movement. And that movement can be anything for at least 15 minutes every day of the year. If I do it at five in the morning or 12 in the afternoon, 6 PM at night, or at 1159, right before the clock strikes midnight, it all counts for Project 365. And movement for me is concentrated movement. Meaning if I normally walk to work, I'm not necessarily gonna count that because that's a means to an end. I have to do that every day. This is time that I set aside specifically for my body and it can look like strength training. It can look like cycling. It can look like going for a walk intentionally. It can look like yoga. It can look like a foam rolling and stretch session. There is no wrong way to do it as long as it's concentrated movement. you know, detracted from the normal course of the day.Jeana Anderson Cohen:love that because you and I were interacting on threads. I think there are so many places to interact these days.Gideon:There'sJeana Anderson Cohen:ButGideon:a lot.Jeana Anderson Cohen:yeah, you were talking about how you love walking on threads and I mentioned that it was the most popular form of movement in our state of fitness survey this year. And I think what was, I was baffled by the fact that a lot of folks didn't seem to consider walking exercise. pre-pandemic. And I think it's exactly what you just said, Giddy, that it's concentrated. I am here walking on purpose.Gideon:100%. And, you know, people may look at me and they say, all right, well, you played football in college and, you know, you train people using these type of parameters or these pieces of equipment. All right, you're a three time Chicago Golden Glove boxing champion.Jeana Anderson Cohen:ThreeGideon:They mayJeana Anderson Cohen:time?Gideon:look at like,Jeana Anderson Cohen:I said twoGideon:yeah,Jeana Anderson Cohen:time. Oh my God, let's update the stats.Gideon:you are all good. So they may look at, you know, some of the higher intensity things that I may have done over the course of my career and all of the higher intensity things that I still do. But at the end of the day, I don't do high intensity stuff every single day. The older I get, the more I appreciate the things that are the yin to the yang, the restorative movement, the mindfulness, the stuff that you do that's great for your mind, body, and soul connection. The walking, the stretching, you know, the community events that don't necessarily have to be about competition and burning a thousand calories. So all of it. all adds to me being my best self. And I think we all should explore those different avenues. There's so much to benefit from when we do.Jeana Anderson Cohen:I love that. Okay, so what was going on in your mind when you decided to start this? What spurred this ProjectGideon:Yeah.Jeana Anderson Cohen:365?Gideon:Oh yeah. So what was going on in my mind? What was going on in my body? There were a lotJeana Anderson Cohen:Yeah.Gideon:of things that were happening at the time. So this is the end of 2022. I am a new father with the challenges of becoming a new father, meaning certain things start to go to the wayside, things that you normally would do, you don't have the time for. And you have to kind of find a way to make things happen as they're supposed to happen. But at the same time, I'm a fitness and I'm a wellness coach, right? I'm a, I'm a fitness professional. I'm supposed to be active. I'm supposed to be doing these things, um, you know, as society tells you to do, but at the same time, I want to do these things. I know that they're good for me. I know they benefit me. I preach it. Right. And IJeana Anderson Cohen:Mm-hmm.Gideon:also want to be able to practice what I preach. So I was like, you know what? I'm not getting in the movement as consistent as consistent as consistently as I would like to. My sleep isn't quite there. My nutrition isn't quite there. My movement isn't as consistent. How can I set a challenge for myself and put it out there into the world to hold me accountable where I am doing these things on a regular basis? So I said, you know what? Let's set a big audacious goal. Let's put it out there. Let's throw it on social media. Let's hold myself accountable by doing daily one minute vlogs to recap what my movement was to inspire people, sure, but more so to hold myself accountable that I'm doing what I said I was going to do. And that's how it was born, to get me back on track, to doing the things that I love, doing the things that I know would benefit me, and the things that are gonna make me a better father, a better husband, a better fitness professional, and a better person.Jeana Anderson Cohen:I love. Before hopping on with you, I Googled because intuitively, I think you and I know, you can shift how you're moving each day and still get the rest and recovery you need. I did some Googling to find some resources for this so I can support you in your answer. Rest and recovery are super important. We know it. We preach it all the time, but you've still been working it in even though you're working out every single day, right? Are you still getting it in, that recovery?Gideon:Oh, 100%. Yeah, and as I mentioned, my movement doesn't always have to be high intensity movement. It doesn't have to be a 10 mile run or, you know, a one hour strength session. Yoga is part of my movement. Stretching and foam rolling is part of my movement. A walk is part of my movement. So if you're watching me recap, you'll see that some days I am completely drenched in sweatJeana Anderson Cohen:Yeah.Gideon:and that's the way I love to be. But at some days there's times where I'm bone dry and you'll see me next to a foam roller and next to a percussion device. and sitting on the ground or on the mat or outdoors in the sunshine with my son going for a stroll with him. So there's different ways for me to level off and taper off my movement while also stepping on the gas pedal and making things more challenging. And I make sure that I balance the two.Jeana Anderson Cohen:And I think that also like we can look at that as a vice versa too. Like when we think about a rest or recovery day, you don't have to think about that as just doing nothing. You know, you could think about that as like a gentle walk, like a recovery yoga class, right?Gideon:100%. What I found over my career as an athlete and over my career as a coach is that the more you move your body, the more things tend to feel good. So even when you are super sore after a very challenging workout the next day or the day after, sometimes just going for a walk, doing some light stretching or even a very basic workout can have you recover and feel better sooner because you are getting that heart pumping and the blood is coursing through your body, sending those healing properties to the joints and to the muscles that need them most to help speed up that recovery. So I'm finding that, hey, yes, I can do all of this movement, but it always helps support the recovery, supports me feeling good, supports my mood and my energy, supports my sleep and all of the metabolic processes that happen within my body.Jeana Anderson Cohen:The body's a miracle, man. BloodGideon:It reallyJeana Anderson Cohen:healsGideon:is.Jeana Anderson Cohen:us. It's crazy. Okay, so to support everything you're saying, life sciences says working out every day is safe as long as you include a balance of different types of workouts throughout the week. High intensity cardio workouts on too many days a week or overloading your schedule with strength training will inevitably lead to injuries and burnout. That's not what you're doing, so you're good.Gideon:Yeah. And along those same lines, I'll say that having that balance in other ways is beneficial as well. Having that balance where you're working out by yourself, having an opportunity to not speak to anyone, not chat, just be in your mind, be in your body, feel what you feel, just learn more about yourself. Well, then also there's the benefit of working out in a community, finding other like-minded people, maybe finding some strangers, making new friends, and not letting the workout. be the goal, but just having the movement and the experience of the movement be the goal. So there's benefits from, you know what, I'm gonna do body weight today versus, you know what, I'm gonna use all the equipment today. So finding that flow, finding the yin, the yang, the left, the right are all beneficial to you just diversifying your experiences and just challenging your body to grow in different ways.Jeana Anderson Cohen:Okay, you have tried so many different workouts this year. SoGideon:I'mJeana Anderson Cohen:I'veGideon:sorry.Jeana Anderson Cohen:been, one of my key performance indicators for your challengeGideon:HahahaJeana Anderson Cohen:is variety and you've been hitting it. So how many, what have been some standouts of the workouts you've tried this year?Gideon:Oh my goodness, there are a lot. And my workouts have been, as I mentioned before, solo workouts for just me right here in this space, shadow boxing. WhereasJeana Anderson Cohen:Mm-hmm.Gideon:there was other workouts where I was running a half marathonJeana Anderson Cohen:HeheheGideon:through the West Side of Chicago. There have been part of my experiences where I'm with a sweat light and we're taking a bar class in the West Loop. So there's, I mean, I've really done a bunch and they're all fun and they're all different. So I've taken bar classes. I went to train moment in Lincoln Park. I'veJeana Anderson Cohen:LoveGideon:takenJeana Anderson Cohen:them.Gideon:classes with other residents that work with me at the Lululemon experiential store. We've gone into the West Loop for bar three. Oh geez, where else have I been? I've gone to Rise Nation in Chicago's River North area. I've taken boxing classes at Rumble. The list is really long from the South side to the North side. I was with trained with Trina for a booty boot camp at six in the morning. It's kind of gone everywhere and I find that you know what, movement doesn't have to be super duper structured all the time. If you have goals and your goals require you to structure your workouts, to look a certain way for you to get to a specific goal, then please, by all means, that's the means that you need to take. That's the way the progression should work. But if you're looking to just maintain or maybe try something new, maybe learn more about yourself and eventually tailor off to something that's more structured and specific, you can do that too by trying all the things in the world. till you get to a place where you know what, you wanna focus on one, two, or three. So there'sJeana Anderson Cohen:Mm-hmm.Gideon:no wrong way to approach it, especially if you're a beginner, especially if you're just getting back into the saddle, try something new, try something different, and then you can always fine tune and tweak things later on. You know, nothing ever has to be the end all be all, especially on the first time and the first go at it.Jeana Anderson Cohen:Yeah, we tried swish house together too.Gideon:We sure did.Jeana Anderson Cohen:That was a delight.Gideon:That was aJeana Anderson Cohen:I reallyGideon:lotJeana Anderson Cohen:loved,Gideon:of fun.Jeana Anderson Cohen:yeah, I really enjoyed that workout and that morning. I think I sweat more than I had in a really long time there.Gideon:That was a very, very cardio based workout. And by the way, for those who don't know, and I'm sure you're going there Gina, Switch House is a basketball inspired workout. So you don't have to be good at basketball. You can miss every shot you take, but it's opportunity to forge a community with other people around the sport of basketball and basketball type drills, which was a lot of fun at the Ray Meyers Center and the Paul Capas, right?Jeana Anderson Cohen:Yeah, that's what we did our class. That was so fun. I am not good at sports that require hand-eye coordination.Gideon:HeheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheheJeana Anderson Cohen:So sports. But I still had such a blast. It was such a good morning and a good workout.Gideon:It was.Jeana Anderson Cohen:And Giddy, I know that you've been hanging out with a lot of communities too. So any communities that you've really enjoyed working out with in this time?Gideon:Oh, man, I really don't want to call anyone out. I mean, all the communities have beenJeana Anderson Cohen:I mean,Gideon:fantastic.Jeana Anderson Cohen:all of them.Gideon:But one in particular, and I didn't mention this earlier for part of my project 365 has been the movement group.Jeana Anderson Cohen:Mm-hmm.Gideon:And movement for those who have not seen it just yet is a collective of gentlemen, emphasis on the MET in the last part of movement. It's a collective of gentlemen who are coming together for a workout, but it's more than the workout. The workout is just a caveat. It's just a conduit. to us having discussions about what it means to be a man, what it means to support each other, what it means to go through our anxieties and our challenges, how we can share where we may struggle and get support from other people like us who have gone through it or are going through those similar situations. So yes, we have the exercise and we have the workout and it's not all fitness professionals, it's not all high level athletes, it's people of different walks of life from professions that vary. to people at different points in their fitness journeys, just coming together, understanding what it means to be a man, learning what it means to be a man, growing as men and supporting each other in that journey, which has been an incredible, incredible feat.Jeana Anderson Cohen:love that. I've been watching that too, because a sweat life, we've said for a long time, a sweat life is largely serving women or folks who identify as women. There are guys who come and we love that. But it's also when men ask the question, how do I make more friends who are guys? There needed to be and there now there is there needed to be a group that does that too. And I've been really excited to watch it grow. And it just feels like it's It's doing community the right way too, which I really like.Gideon:Yeah, 100%. And I'm the type of person who, for the most part, I've always had my circle. I've always had my friends, my family, the people I feel most comfortable just kind of associating with. But I also love meeting new people and hearing new stories. I'm always inspired by what other people have to say, what other people have been through. And for me, I'm not necessarily looking to add more friends. I'm not turning people away either, butJeana Anderson Cohen:HahahaGideon:just to be in a space of positivityJeana Anderson Cohen:Yeah.Gideon:is always empowering for me. So... That's one of the reasons why I sought out that group and being a part of it and why so many other people are doing the same.Jeana Anderson Cohen:Yeah, I love it. Okay, back to project 365. What, you're more than halfway through the year, which is crazy. Can you believe that?Gideon:Today is day 189. Ha haJeana Anderson Cohen:Um, andGideon:ha.Jeana Anderson Cohen:I did the math today. I divided 365 by two and I was like,Gideon:Yeah.Jeana Anderson Cohen:Oh my God, he's over halfway to, um, what are, what are some lessons you've taken from the project?Gideon:Oh, there are so many lessons I can write a book when it's all said and done.Jeana Anderson Cohen:I hope youGideon:Um,Jeana Anderson Cohen:do!Gideon:a couple of lessons. One of the big lessons is in order for you to accomplish anything, you have to prioritize it.Jeana Anderson Cohen:Mmm.Gideon:And I know you, everyone has heard that we all know that, but it's very, very easy to overlook it when we look at the large picture. If I said to you, Hey, I want you to work out 365 days starting from today. What would you say, Gina? How would you feel about that?Jeana Anderson Cohen:I would probably say no, thank you.Gideon:Now, let me, why would you say that though? Why would you say that Gina? No, seriously,Jeana Anderson Cohen:likeGideon:IJeana Anderson Cohen:rules.Gideon:want you to answer.Jeana Anderson Cohen:IGideon:WhyJeana Anderson Cohen:don'tGideon:wouldJeana Anderson Cohen:likeGideon:you sayJeana Anderson Cohen:rules.Gideon:that?Jeana Anderson Cohen:I'm a Sagittarius, you're a Capricorn. You like structure.Gideon:Okay.Jeana Anderson Cohen:I would, however, if I got there on my own, I would be like, yes, I could do that. If you wereGideon:Okay.Jeana Anderson Cohen:like, would you like a challenge like this? If you told me I hadGideon:UhJeana Anderson Cohen:to do it, the answer would be no. But if youGideon:huh. Okay.Jeana Anderson Cohen:asked me nicely, IGideon:Okay, cool.Jeana Anderson Cohen:would come with you on this journey.Gideon:Now let me ask you this follow-up question. If IJeana Anderson Cohen:Yeah.Gideon:said for you, for the next three days, I wantJeana Anderson Cohen:Mm-hmm.Gideon:you to work out for 15 minutes, could you do that? Could you commitJeana Anderson Cohen:Yeah!Gideon:to that?Jeana Anderson Cohen:Yeah,Gideon:Okay.Jeana Anderson Cohen:for sure.Gideon:If I said for the next seven days, could you commit to that?Jeana Anderson Cohen:Yeah, we're just stacking up here.Gideon:Okay,Jeana Anderson Cohen:Okay,Gideon:yeah,Jeana Anderson Cohen:we'reGideon:ifJeana Anderson Cohen:gonnaGideon:IJeana Anderson Cohen:getGideon:saidJeana Anderson Cohen:toGideon:forJeana Anderson Cohen:a month.Gideon:the next month,Jeana Anderson Cohen:So yeah,Gideon:what would you say?Jeana Anderson Cohen:I would, yes, I could do a month.Gideon:Okay. Now, like you may start to get a little bit more hesitant the furtherJeana Anderson Cohen:Yeah.Gideon:out I go, but for me, it was like, you know what, prioritize today, prioritize your movement today. Don't worry about tomorrow. Don't worry about next week. Don't worry about next month. That will take care of itself. Today, just when are you going to get those 15 minutes in? Well, you know what, after I teach a class, I'm going to have a little block of time. I can very easily in that same space, workout, boom, done. All right. That day goes by the next day. Well, I have a free day. Boom, I can knock it out. No problem. Perfect. The next day, well, you know what? This group is getting together over there. I really don't want to think about what that workout's going to be. Let me just sign up for that class or sign up for that experience. Boom, that gets done. And everything just kind of knocks itself out day after day. Now, don't get me wrong. It sounds very simple. It sounds very easy. But there are going to be days where you just have no motivation. You just haveJeana Anderson Cohen:I was wondering.Gideon:no desire to move. And that's happened to me many a times. It doesn't happen as frequently because I feel like I've gotten into a groove 189 days in. You'veJeana Anderson Cohen:Yeah.Gideon:gotten into a groove of, you know what? This is just what you do. It just startsJeana Anderson Cohen:Mm-hmm.Gideon:to ebb and flow naturally for you. But those days where it's like, I really just don't wanna do this, that's a rest day. That rest day is your walk. That rest day is your yoga. That rest day is your foam rolling and stretching as you're watching Netflix. You're gonna be doing thatJeana Anderson Cohen:Mm-hmm.Gideon:anyway. You might as well show your body some love in the process. So there's so many ways to work around. lacking motivation, but more than anything, you really just need to look at it as today. I'm just going to win today. Tomorrow, we'll take care of itself and we'll conquer that too, but let's take care of today first. So that's one. And then two, another lesson is just diversifying what your experiences are. We touched on it a little bit earlier. Doing a little bit of everything means that it never gets stale. It never gets old, right? I'm always changing my ambiance. I'm changing my background and my location. Sometimes you'll catch me at the lake front. Sometimes you'll catch me at home. Sometimes you'll catch me at a group fitness facility. Sometimes you'll catch me at the boxing gym. Sometimes you'll catch me running in a race, an organized race. Sometimes you'll catch me in a competition on the streets of Chicago. So it looks different all the time. And that variety just gives me a different spark, a different energy to approach that movement with. So those are my two biggest takeaways. It's just do something, do it till you don't wanna do it anymore. Try something new, cause there's always something to help stimulate your mind, body and soul.Jeana Anderson Cohen:Ooh, I love that. The versifying your experiences is so important. One, there's this expert, her name is, I'm gonna forget it right now because I'm not 100% Gina, but there's this woman named Laura something, I'll put it in the show notes, but she studies time and the way we perceive the passage of time.Gideon:Mmm,Jeana Anderson Cohen:And one ofGideon:yeah.Jeana Anderson Cohen:the key ways to make our lives feel like, fuller and like you've had more time is to introduce novelty in small and big ways. Small ways are like moving your workout to a new location. Her name is Laura Vanderkam. Congratulations, brain, you did it.Gideon:YeahJeana Anderson Cohen:And big ways are like, take a trip, have a big life experience. But the small ways are just as effective because our brain, when our days are the same, are very routine, our brain compresses that. into like a memory, which is why we feel like time is flying. So I wonder if you're also like, are you also experiencing like this kind of eyes wide open, like newness happiness kind of experience that one would expect after hearing that?Gideon:Well, to be honest with you, it's all at this point, just joy, just understandingJeana Anderson Cohen:Yeah. Awesome.Gideon:that I'm accomplishing what a lot of people, I won't even say can't do, but what a lot of people won'tJeana Anderson Cohen:What?Gideon:do, right?Jeana Anderson Cohen:Yeah.Gideon:So for me, I'm that type A type of person. I'm a competitor at nature. This isn't about a competition because it is solely just my project. I'm notJeana Anderson Cohen:Mm-hmm.Gideon:necessarily embarking on this with anyone else. There are people who have joined on their own version of it.Jeana Anderson Cohen:I have,Gideon:AndJeana Anderson Cohen:IGideon:I'm,Jeana Anderson Cohen:love it.Gideon:yeah, and I'm glad to see that, hey, people like... Gideon, I love what you're doing. I want to do that too. Or I have been doing. There's people who've been doing something similar long before I even announced that I was doing this that I didn't even know about. So toJeana Anderson Cohen:Mm-hmm.Gideon:know that there are people doing this or people who now want to do this is very just, I think it's pretty awesome. So understanding that you know what, I can embark on this and challenge myself to do something that I know is worthwhile that maybe other people aren't doing or can't do. or won't do, I should say, because everybody can do it. They just have to dedicate themselves to that.Jeana Anderson Cohen:Mm-hmm.Gideon:So yes, there is a joy that comes from knowing that I'm doing a pretty tough task, but I broke it down into a way that makes it very reasonable and very approachable for me. So yes, there's a lot of joy that comes from it. There's joy from meeting new people. There's a lot of joy in dripping sweat. I just love that. And then finding out what my body can do, what my body is not great at, but can get better from. And I do more of that just to... find out how I can be my best, most well-rounded, athletic version of myself.Jeana Anderson Cohen:I mean, I don't want to say I love it again, because I've said it a lot, but I really doGideon:HahahaJeana Anderson Cohen:love it. But I was inspired. I was inspired by your challenge to do a challenge this spring that I made up for myself. I did 30 days of Friends, because I thought 30 days was long enough for me to make a Friend a Day. But when I started it, I was like, should I do a year? Then I was like, I'm going to do a year.Gideon:I saw when you did that and I actually wanted to ask you similar questions to what you're asking me. So I guessJeana Anderson Cohen:Yeah.Gideon:I'm going to kind of flip the switch on you right now and become host for a brief moment. How,Jeana Anderson Cohen:Oh yeah, do it.Gideon:when you decided to embark on that, did you think, you know what, day one, day two, day three, ooh, I got 30 days, I don't know if I can do this. Or was it very natural for you? I mean, you are an energetic, outgoing person that builds relationships all the time. How did that feel for you?Jeana Anderson Cohen:Well, good question. So like some days it was just like fitness, honestly, it's like some days it was really easy. Like it would just, I would be in a really good mood for it and I would be in a place where people were really friendly and it would just come like bang, boom, come really naturally. But some days I would wake up and I would just need a day to myself because it's also a lot of like putting yourself out there to set up in your mind like I'm gonna make a friend a day. That's also like. If you choose to look at it this way, it could be like, I'm going to get rejected.Gideon:hahahahaJeana Anderson Cohen:I didn't get rejected that free. I got rejected one time and it was by someone who didn't want to take a selfie with me. And I was like, that's cool. We can be friends anyway. We still had a whole conversation, butGideon:Yeah.Jeana Anderson Cohen:that was the only part that was kind of draining. So it wasGideon:Mmm.Jeana Anderson Cohen:that every day I'd wake up and the first thought would be like, Ooh, opportunity, I get to make a friend. And then like second thought would be like, where am I going to make a friend?Gideon:Yeah, yeah. Yeah, no, thank you for sharing that because it's very different from my challenge but very similar in many ways. It'sJeana Anderson Cohen:Yeah.Gideon:different in the sense that, you know what? Every day that you try to make a friend requires you to put forth a level of energy, right?Jeana Anderson Cohen:Mm-hmm.Gideon:Whereas my challenge, sometimes my energy can be up to the max, sometimes my energy can be down here depending on the intensity I select. Whereas you always have to have something that's going to draw somebody in to say like,Jeana Anderson Cohen:Yeah.Gideon:okay. I can engage with this person. So similar in the sense that it's a challenge and it requires consistency and you putting yourself out there, et cetera, but it requires you to do a little bit more because you don't have a day where you can turn the dial down or switch it off entirely as well. So kudos to youJeana Anderson Cohen:I didGideon:onJeana Anderson Cohen:haveGideon:embarkingJeana Anderson Cohen:a hack.Gideon:on that.Jeana Anderson Cohen:I did have a hack forGideon:What wasJeana Anderson Cohen:aGideon:that?Jeana Anderson Cohen:couple days where when I was just tired and I couldn't like emotionally put myself out there, there was someone who had reached out to me or a couple of people who had reached out to me in my DMs to be like, can I be your friend one day during this challenge? AndGideon:I'mJeana Anderson Cohen:on thoseGideon:sorry.Jeana Anderson Cohen:days, I arranged to meet up with those people when I was like, I can't do it. AndGideon:Yeah.Jeana Anderson Cohen:I felt like that still counted.Gideon:100%. Did you make a friend that day?Jeana Anderson Cohen:I sure did.Gideon:Exactly. So when people say like, Hey, you did yoga for 15 minutes. You went for a 15 minute walk. Did I move that day? Was it concentrated effort? Absolutely. So don't think that your workouts always have to be full tilt,Jeana Anderson Cohen:Yeah.Gideon:put on the gas pedal in order for it to benefit your body. Like, no, your body is just one part of your overall wellness. Don't forget your mind. Don't forget your flexibility and your mobility. Don't forget your heart rate, your breathing, your mindfulness. All of that makes you better, makes you more well-rounded and takes care of the whole self. So consider that when you're putting together your fitness plan.Jeana Anderson Cohen:I love this. And what's great about both our challenges is that both the act of making a friend, the act of trying something new, the act of doing physical movement, all those things release good for you chemicals in your brain like oxytocin, serotonin, adrenaline, all the things we need to feel up and energetic. So it'sGideon:Yes.Jeana Anderson Cohen:not just our bodies, it's not just surface friendship. So it's good for you.Gideon:It's great for you.Jeana Anderson Cohen:Yeah, so good for you. Okay, is there anything else you want to share about Project 365 before we move on to show in?Gideon:Yeah, that's a great question. Anything else I want to share? I mean, I just really love it. I really have not, I really didn't know where it was going to go or how it was going to morph or change or adjust. I will say that there are going to be moments where you find yourself gravitating towards certain styles of movement or towards certain just modes of engaging in your physical self. And that's completely fine. Matter of fact, it's a great way for you to open up Pandora's box. but then start to filter it to what makes you the most happiest. So for those of you who have not worked out in a while or have not worked out at all, try something, try anything, try everything. You don't have to necessarily stick with it. The more you kind of test out the gamut and see what options are out there, the more you'll actually start to funnel yourself towards something that brings you most joy, which can be dancing, which can be swimming, which can be a jog, walk, run. which can be classes in structured formats like that. It can be you working out at home to workouts on YouTube. You can be on the Get Fit with Giddy app. You have tons of opportunities and options out there to move and just give yourself a chance to find wherever home may be.Jeana Anderson Cohen:The workout that you are most likely to do is the one you like.Gideon:Indeed, that is a fact.Jeana Anderson Cohen:All right, and now it's time for show and tell. Let's shareGideon:Okay.Jeana Anderson Cohen:a tip, a resource, or an article. You want me to go first, Gideon?Gideon:Yeah, I would love for you to go first.Jeana Anderson Cohen:Okay, so my tip has nothing to do with this challenge.Gideon:HahahaJeana Anderson Cohen:I'm going off the reservation for this tip because I don't know if I've ever talked to you about this, Gideon, I love outer space. I wanted to be an astronaut when I was growing up. LoveGideon:Pause,Jeana Anderson Cohen:it.Gideon:gottaJeana Anderson Cohen:Pause.Gideon:ask you, gotta ask you, do you believe in aliens?Jeana Anderson Cohen:Oh, yeah. What about you?Gideon:I don't know. I don't think I do. So this is my thing. And I was having this conversation with my wife as well, too. WhenJeana Anderson Cohen:No.Gideon:it comes to aliens, extraterrestrials, whatever, right, there's no reason for me not to necessarily, but there is no reason for me to believe that they exist as well. The reason why I say that is because if you give me signs, evidence, or experiences that light up in that direction, I can start to put together my own theories, my own ideas. But since I haven't seen any or any footage that I've come across online has been grainy, weakJeana Anderson Cohen:Yeah.Gideon:at best, it's hard for me to attribute that as fact. So I need a little bit more from my own perspective for it to line up and be. But who knows?Jeana Anderson Cohen:So like if you shook hands with an alien, then you'd be, or like whateverGideon:Then I'llJeana Anderson Cohen:anGideon:beJeana Anderson Cohen:alienGideon:like,Jeana Anderson Cohen:has,Gideon:yeah,Jeana Anderson Cohen:like shook tentacles.Gideon:I met dude. You know what I mean? Yeah, he's real. I get it. I,Jeana Anderson Cohen:Yeah.Gideon:yeah. But you know, but if I, if I was the one who was standing outside and something weird streaked across the sky and I got a good glimpse of it, then I can be like, yo, all right. But since it's always, you know, footage that I saw on the news that was a blip, that was slowed down and looked like somebody just threw confetti in the air. And it's like, all right, maybe, but also there's a lot of maybe not possibilities there too. So. I don't know.Jeana Anderson Cohen:Yeah. Okay.Gideon:WhyJeana Anderson Cohen:MyGideon:do youJeana Anderson Cohen:reason.Gideon:believe?Jeana Anderson Cohen:Okay. The reason I believe in aliens is because the universe is just so big. And the idea that we are the only life that exists in itGideon:Mm-hmm.Jeana Anderson Cohen:is mind blowing to me.Gideon:Yeah.Jeana Anderson Cohen:And I've also because of my obsession with space, I have gotten to speak with astronauts. the course of my life.Gideon:Oh, okay.Jeana Anderson Cohen:My mom and dad were very supportive, short of sending me to space camp because space camp was super expensive, of my astronaut dreams. So they took me to meet astronauts and we went to different spacey things. AndGideon:Okay.Jeana Anderson Cohen:if you ask astronauts about aliens, they clam up. SoGideon:Is that right?Jeana Anderson Cohen:yeah, I have had that conversation. Honestly, I think we're not alone. I'm not going to make any guesses beyond that.Gideon:Okay.Jeana Anderson Cohen:I've never seen an alien either, nor have I shakenGideon:Yeah.Jeana Anderson Cohen:tentacles with one, but I think there's more life out there.Gideon:Indeed.Jeana Anderson Cohen:But I digress. IGideon:Yeah.Jeana Anderson Cohen:do. Look, I love this diversion. Wait, my show and tell.Gideon:I love that. I love that.Jeana Anderson Cohen:My show and tellGideon:OK.Jeana Anderson Cohen:is from NPR. This week, a lot of places, particularly in North America, are going to be able to see the Aurora Borealis. So we're recording this on July 9th, and the best days will be Wednesday the 12th and Thursday the 13th. So even in Chicago, we'll be able to see the Northern Lights, but you'll wanna get away from some light pollution, but a good time to gaze up if it's not cloudy.Gideon:Now, do you know for those in the Chicago Line area how far out we need to go in order for us to get good visibility? Do you have any idea?Jeana Anderson Cohen:Well, if you're trying to avoid light pollution, you would probably want to either be out on the lake or you could drive around to the other side of Lake Michigan orGideon:Okay.Jeana Anderson Cohen:just... Or drive north. But I think we might be able to see it in the city, but it would be more faint. If you want a good experience, I would just drive north, go out on the lake or drive around to St.Gideon:Okay,Jeana Anderson Cohen:Joseph, Michigan or something.Gideon:nice, very nice.Jeana Anderson Cohen:Take the fam, make it a night.Gideon:Yeah, why not? I think I might.Jeana Anderson Cohen:Okay, Diddy, and do you have a show and tell?Gideon:A show and tell.Jeana Anderson Cohen:I didn't give you much time to prepare for this. So if youGideon:YouJeana Anderson Cohen:canGideon:didn'tJeana Anderson Cohen:passGideon:give meJeana Anderson Cohen:ifGideon:muchJeana Anderson Cohen:you needGideon:timeJeana Anderson Cohen:to.Gideon:toJeana Anderson Cohen:HaGideon:prepare,Jeana Anderson Cohen:ha ha.Gideon:but it's all good. A couple of show and tells, just because we're at number one on the fitness theme, I willJeana Anderson Cohen:Mm-hmm.Gideon:say that I really love communities and communities that expose you to more than you normally have access to. So shameless plug for you and a sweat life. I really have enjoyed being in a sweat life ambassador. because it's just given me opportunities to see things, to meet people, to go to places, to try products and services, and to connect with these products and services even outside of a sweat life that I still tie into and use in support to this very day. So kudos to you and the team for the great work that you do in exposing us to so many amazing experiences. And for those who are new to a city or wanna try something that they've read about, or maybe wanna jump in on a workout that they haven't had a chance to. experience, like do those things and use these communities that are structured to bring those things to you to learn more and to be attuned to what's happening in this world and in this space of wellness because it's for your benefit, right? It's for your mind, your body, it's for all of the things that are going to make you show up better for yourself and for the people around you in this world. So take full advantage. So that's one. And then two, another resource that I love and I take is the Wall Street Journal's, for lack of a better term, daily recap. And I get an email in my inbox every morning at 5, 5.30, 6 a.m. And essentially it gives me the news that I need to know for that day. And what I love about it is, well, for five minutes I can sit down, kind of research the generals. I'm not necessarily at home watching news all that often. And I certainly don't want to get... only my news updates from social media, because that can be a little wacky. SoJeana Anderson Cohen:I'mGideon:havingJeana Anderson Cohen:sorry.Gideon:a credible news source in my inbox, kind of breaking down the things that are important, not only in the United States, but across the world, but it gives me just a good general feel for what's happening. And of course I can follow up on anything that's really pressing or, or super interesting to me.Jeana Anderson Cohen:who I love. Okay, speaking of love, something we're loving this week. Well, and with this, we like to create a positive sandwich, but this whole thing has been positive from end to end. It falls under food, friendship, fitness, or fun. Gideon, would you like to go second? Okay, great.Gideon:I would love to go second.Jeana Anderson Cohen:What I'm loving this week is our studio of the month at A Sweat Life, which is Body Bar Pilates. It's lovely. It's more classical, like Joseph Pilates Pilates.Gideon:Mm-hmm.Jeana Anderson Cohen:I just, I really enjoy that style. I like all styles of reformer Pilates, but it's nice, just like anything, it's nice to like touch that end of the spectrum again, because it can be gentle and it also can be just really challenging to your muscles. HaveGideon:Yeah,Jeana Anderson Cohen:you tried it yet?Gideon:I have not tried it yet. Maybe just like we did with Switch House, maybe we tried it together.Jeana Anderson Cohen:Oh yeah, I would love to.Gideon:I would loveJeana Anderson Cohen:IGideon:toJeana Anderson Cohen:wannaGideon:asJeana Anderson Cohen:do theGideon:wellJeana Anderson Cohen:mixedGideon:too. Ooh,Jeana Anderson Cohen:equipment class.Gideon:okay, all right. You know more than I do. I'm just gonna followJeana Anderson Cohen:Okay,Gideon:your lead.Jeana Anderson Cohen:okay, I'll throw you in.Gideon:All right. Okay, now you gave me several categories to pick from. I know you said food,Jeana Anderson Cohen:Food,Gideon:fitness, things.Jeana Anderson Cohen:friendship,Gideon:Yep, so I'm gonna start there.Jeana Anderson Cohen:fitness,Gideon:Actually, I wannaJeana Anderson Cohen:fun.Gideon:go through all of those if you don't mind.Jeana Anderson Cohen:Oh, wait, love.Gideon:Yeah, so I'm gonna start with food. So I am 100% NigerianJeana Anderson Cohen:Mm-hmm.Gideon:and I just came back from church not too long ago. and there was a celebration that happened afterwards. And one of the native foods that they provided and that I absolutely love, it will always be my favorite food in the entire world, is eion and efo. So it is a hand-eaten food. It's a starch and it is a yam starch that you scoop into a spinach tomato-based soup, which is justJeana Anderson Cohen:Mmm.Gideon:my favorite. So for any of you who have never tried it, find a Nigerian restaurant and ask for the eion and efo. TheJeana Anderson Cohen:IGideon:nextJeana Anderson Cohen:tried spellingGideon:is what?Jeana Anderson Cohen:it.Gideon:Fitness, you said?Jeana Anderson Cohen:Fitness,Gideon:Okay,Jeana Anderson Cohen:yeah, food,Gideon:so,Jeana Anderson Cohen:fitness, friendship, yep.Gideon:okay, yeah. So when it comes to fitness, for me, it's pickup basketball. I love a lot of fitness things, but for me, I'm in a season of pickup basketball where I know I'm not the best basketball player in the world. My skills are limited. I've played a lot of other sports except for the sport of basketball, but the challenge of running up and down a court, playing defense, playing offense, knowing the rules of the game. and watching an hour pass by and you thought that 10 minutes just elapsed is very invigorating for me. Going back to what you were talking about, the concept of time when you're doing things that are different and simulating in different ways is just top notch for me.Jeana Anderson Cohen:I'm through.Gideon:So friendship, what I'm loving about friendship is this one right here, Gina. Thank you for reaching out and hitting me up and having a chance to catch up and chat. We don't see and chat with each other all that often, but it's always fun when we do. And I can appreciate not having. to be in contact every single day in order for us to still have a relationship, which I thinkJeana Anderson Cohen:Yeah,Gideon:isJeana Anderson Cohen:weGideon:cool.Jeana Anderson Cohen:can be friendsGideon:You know,Jeana Anderson Cohen:all the time.Gideon:we can be friends all the time. Absolutely. So I'm going to end there. But those are justJeana Anderson Cohen:Okay.Gideon:my food, my fitness, and my friendship.Jeana Anderson Cohen:And I feel like fun really went through all of them if youGideon:Yeah,Jeana Anderson Cohen:think about it.Gideon:agree.Jeana Anderson Cohen:Gideon, where can folks find you if they wanna work out with you, follow you, hang out with you?Gideon:Yes, thank you for asking. You can find me on my website first and foremost, gideonaconde.com, G-I-D-E-O-N, AKA M-D-E.com. I have my own fitness app, so if people wanna join me for boxing workouts, bodyweight workouts, dumbbell strength, cycling, and a host of other workouts, you can find it there. I also have an in-class schedule where I have a residency at the Lululemon Experiential Store on North Avenue in Sheffield in Chicago's Lincoln Park. You can join me there Tuesday nights at 5.30 p.m. and Saturday mornings at 9 a.m. On my website is the full schedule and calendar. So check it out, would love to have you there. And then on social media, my handle is getfitwithgitty, Gitty being G-I-D-D-Y. I'm also on threads as well too. For those of you who are hip to that, join me on Facebook, Instagram, threads, all the places I would love to connect with you.Jeana Anderson Cohen:Well, this has been another episode of We Got Goals, which is in a sweatlife.com production and another thing that's better with friends. Thanks to Gideon Akande for joining me. Thanks to Ryan Deffit for editing, Ryan Barayuga for video production, and thanks to all of you, our listeners, for subscribing, rating, reviewing, whatever you do with podcasts, wherever you get your podcasts.