The Path is Too Deep

For this  #TacticalThursday , I'm going to shift my focus from high-level strategy to ground-level execution. While it is important to have clear goals, the success of any protocol ultimately depends on the logistics of daily life. For a system to run efficiently, the environment must be optimized to reduce friction. Living with Combined Presentation  ADHD often means battling Executive Dysfunction (a symptom that causes problems with how your brain manages thoughts, feelings and actions). This isn't just about "being distracted"; it is a regulation issue. It is the difficulty of initiating tasks, remembering where objects are, and making decisions when the brain is already fatigued. Over the years, I have learned that relying on willpower is a failing strategy. Willpower is a finite resource. Instead, I rely on preparation . I design my environment to remove the need for decision-making. Here are the specific protocols I use to keep the system running smoothly. 1. Ex...

In software development, an "Exception Error" occurs when a program encounters an unexpected condition that disrupts the normal flow of instructions. This week, I encountered a critical exception error. My mother was admitted to the hospital with pneumonia. In the rush to leave work early and travel to the Valley to see her, the "System"—my carefully curated routine of fasting, clean eating, and exercise—encountered a glitch. The "Crash" Stress is a powerful disruptor. Triggered by worry and a disruption in my schedule, I reverted to old code. On the drive down, I stopped at a (keto) bakery. I broke my 22:2 fast early (around 2:00 PM) with treats rather than nutrition. Treats from Locally Baked Outlet (picture credit to them) By the time I returned to Halifax that evening, I was mentally and physically drained. I managed to cook a compliant dinner—a simple clean keto chicken curry with cauliflower rice—but the tank was empty. I skipped my calisthenics rou...

When people hear "ADHD," they often picture a hyperactive seven-year-old boy bouncing off the walls of a classroom. They rarely picture a 53-year-old man sitting quietly in an office. But I was that boy. I was diagnosed at five years old, having shown symptoms since I was three. My ADHD wasn't "adult onset"; it has been my companion for half a century. For years, I’ve tried to explain to neurotypical people what it actually feels like to live inside this brain. It isn't just about "getting distracted." It is about intensity. Here is the best way I can explain the reality of my daily life: The Equalizer Imagine that we are sitting down in a coffee shop, having a conversation. Now picture that my sensory input is like one of those music equalizers, with each frequency range linked to a slider. Now, turn all of those sliders up to 10, all the time . That movement behind you? 10. Humming of a nearby light? 10. Temperature in the room? 10. Feeling o...

We’ve all felt the "Sunday Scaries." It’s that creeping feeling of anxiety that starts around 4:00 PM as the weekend winds down and the looming responsibilities of Monday morning cast a shadow over your evening. I used to spend my Sundays dreading the week ahead. I felt like I was standing on the tracks waiting for a train to hit me. But lately, I’ve flipped the script. Sunday is no longer a day of dread; it is my most powerful tool. It is the day I clear the decks, check my compass, and make sure I’m pointed in the right direction. Welcome to System Check Sunday . This isn't about being a workaholic or obsessing over data. It’s about taking twenty minutes to be kind to my future self. Here is my simple 3-step routine to turn Sunday from a source of stress into a source of strength. Step 1: The "No-Judgment" Review Before I plan forward, I look back. But here is the key: I leave the judge at the door. I look at the last seven days with curiosity, not criticism....

Tomorrow is the Super Bowl of procrastination. It is the one night of the year where millions of people collectively decide that they will be different people when the sun comes up. If you are a regular at a gym, you know what is coming. They call them the "Januarys." For the first three weeks of the year, you won't be able to find a parking spot. The treadmills will be full; the weights will be occupied. It is a tsunami of good intentions. But if you wait until February 1st, the tide goes out. The parking lot empties, and the regulars get their squat racks back. Why does this happen? Why do millions of people start with such fire, only to flame out in thirty days? The Trap of "Resolution" The problem lies in the word itself. A "Resolution" is often treated as a wish. It is a binary statement: "I resolve to lose 20 pounds." "I resolve to get healthy." These are Goals . Goals are destinations. The problem is, a goal does not tell yo...

Living in Nova Scotia means acknowledging a harsh reality: We are solar-powered creatures, but for six months of the year, someone unplugs the sun. The "Halifax Grey", especially in the winter months isn't just a weather pattern; it’s a physiological state. We go to work in the dark, we come home in the dark, and in between, we see a lot of fog. While we joke about the weather, the biological toll is real. We aren't just missing out on a tan; we are starving our bodies of a critical hormone. It’s Not a Vitamin, It’s a Key First, let’s clear up a misconception. Vitamin D isn't really a "vitamin" in the way Vitamin C is. It is actually a pro-hormone -  a building block your body uses to manufacture essential hormones. Think of it like a master key. It unlocks receptors in almost every tissue in your body, from your immune system to your brain. Immune Defense: It arms your T-cells to fight off viruses (crucial during flu season). Mood Regulation: Low leve...

Christmas has always been my favorite holiday of the year. But this year, for the first time in a very long time, the silence in my apartment is louder than the carols. Memory can be a double-edged sword during the holidays. In years past, my Christmas was defined by a specific, chaotic, beautiful noise. It was the sound of a "traditional" family celebration. It was a table groaning under the weight of a feast I helped prepare. It was the tearing of wrapping paper as we opened stockings, the clatter of dice on the table during our board game sessions, and the quiet, peaceful moments in between. Most of all, it was defined by the happiness on the faces of the people around me. I fed off that joy. It was my fuel. This year, the script has flipped. Following the dissolution of my marriage, I am spending Christmas alone. There is no feast to cook. There are no stockings to fill. The games are on the shelf. The silence is heavy, and the longing for that lost "normal" wei...

In the world of computer programming, "Legacy Code" is the stuff nightmares are made of. It’s the old, messy, undocumented programming sitting at the core of a system. It’s often full of bugs, it crashes constantly, but nobody wants to touch it because they are terrified the whole thing will break. We all run on legacy code. We usually call it "family history," but it’s the same thing: a set of default settings hardcoded into us by the people who came before us. My source code has some critical bugs. My father left when I was young. That event didn't just leave an emotional gap; it installed a corrupted operating system for handling stress. I inherited a default setting for obesity, for hiding from conflict, and for using food to numb out difficult emotions. For 40 years, I let that buggy code run in the background. I executed the same loops : get stressed, eat to soothe, isolate, repeat. Hardware vs. Software We used to think our DNA was like a Read-Only file—t...

We often think of ADHD simply as a lack of attention. But for many of us, it feels less like a "deficit" and more like a regulation problem in a world that won't stop screaming at us. The chaos in my brain isn't just a wiring issue; it is being fueled by a constant drip-feed of intense stimulation—from the screen in my pocket to the food on my plate. The Dopamine Trap: The "Wanting" Molecule To understand why we snack when we aren't hungry or scroll when we are tired, you have to understand dopamine. Most people think dopamine is about pleasure , but it’s actually about seeking . It is the chemical of anticipation. It’s the feeling you get when you see a notification badge on your phone or smell a bakery from down the street. It’s the brain saying, "Pay attention! Something good might happen!" Modern life is engineered to hijack this system. Processed foods are designed with the perfect "bliss point" of sugar and salt to trigger a mas...

In my last few posts, I've audited the "dirty keto" industry, built a clean shopping list , and talked about the crucial role of gut health —our "second brain"—in managing inflammation. Today, I want to get personal and explore how that "second brain" directly impacts my first brain. For my entire life, I've navigated the world with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and, for much of my adulthood, a persistent form of depression called Dysthymia. Medication has been a vital tool, but my journey towards a truly clean , anti-inflammatory ketogenic lifestyle, combined with intermittent fasting, has unlocked a new level of mental clarity and emotional stability I didn't think was possible. This isn't just about weight loss or physical health; it's about feeding my brain the right fuel and quieting the internal chaos. Understanding My Internal Operating System: ADHD & Dysthymia To understand how food impacts my brain, you f...

"Hello There"  My name is Chris. I'm 53 as I write this in October of 2025, and I'm a gamer, a golfer, and a guy who's been (and continues to be) on a serious health journey. After losing and then gaining over 190 pounds and facing significant cardiac events, I thought I was doing everything right by following a 'keto' diet. I was wrong. I discovered I was eating 'dirty keto'—my 'health foods' were full of inflammatory oils, hidden starches, and artificial sweeteners that were working against me. 'The Path is Too Deep' is my personal blog about ditching the marketing and discovering the power of a Clean, Anti-Inflammatory, Whole-Food Ketogenic Lifestyle. I'll be sharing what I've learned about reading labels, my ongoing journey with weight loss, my strategies for managing mental health (ADHD/dysthymia), and my thoughts on gaming, golf, and technology. It's my personal rulebook for taking back control. "Not all those...