HybridHampton

Those who do can always find a friend.

Hey! I know what you mean. Personally, I've found that my "rainy days" tend to happen when I'm focused on myself. When I'm thinking about myself, I'm a lot more likely to be negative, angry, and "grumpy Hampton."

When I focus less on myself and instead think about what I can do for others, it cheers me up. My mental clouds clear and I'm excited about life again.

I want to note that it's not unreasonable to think about ourselves sometimes. Sometimes I'm stressed about money, for example. I want to be able to provide and care for my family.

So I'm not saying that we should never think about ourselves. Self-care is very important I've just simply observed that my life thrives when I focus on giving to others.

As for negative emotions, sometimes I let them happen and analyze them later. If I notice I have an angry reaction to something, I ask myself why. For example, if I snap at a friend who mentioned that I looked tired, why did I do that? Perhaps I have some insecurity about wrinkles on my face. From there, I reconcile that insecurity. I either decide that it's baseless or I acknowledge that it's true.

SO much peace of mind comes from acknowledging things that should be true anyway. For example, if someone were to tell me that I'm a poor fitness content creator, I acknowledge that my style may not be for them. I thank them for their feedback, ask them for suggestions, and tell them I'm always working on being better! All of that is true, so it shouldn't make me angry.

Of course, it's also important to recognize that a single opinion is not definitive, haha.

Take what others say with a grain of salt, cuz sometimes haters be salty.

Hey! Sorry for the delay! I had some issues getting the AMA to start.

Directly before and while starting the Hybrid Calisthenics videos, I was taking care of my mom 24/7. She had a massive stroke and couldn't walk, talk, or do anything by herself. I took care of her full-time for almost 2 years before she passed away in 2020.

During the time, I had no way to generate income other than to work from home. Thankfully, I did some light web design and print design work which helped pay some bills, but I wanted to start something else.

At the time, Hybrid Calisthenics was a blog I had started shortly before she had gotten sick. I got re-inspired to start making video content. Being a caretaker had given me a lot of time to think and I had a lot I wanted to say. At first, I did it with the primary intention of starting a business. As in, make free content and then sell courses or physical products.

However, as soon as I gathered a community of a few people, that became the center of my attention and hasn't changed. Ironically, I started down this path with the idea of having a "home business" to make money, but I ultimately wanted to give out knowledge for free. I do sell shirts and make ad revenue etc, but the content and community have become the goal and not the means to an end.

As for calisthenics, I've always been into fitness and loved pushups and situps and stuff. I didn't have a regimented routine until I read the Convict Conditioning series. That ultimately inspired me to pursue progressive calisthenics and teach it to others. When the videos started to circulate, I reached out to the author by email and asked for permission to share his exercises. He gave me his blessing, which I'm very thankful for. Paul Wade is a friendly individual and I highly recommend people check out his books. Even if you're not interested in bodyweight fitness, his books and writing style may inspire you.

Hey!!! You're the first question.

I like it. I naturally ate this way for years before I ever heard the term. I still do on most days.

I know it has some criticism, but these arguments usually address points that are not relevant to why I do IF anyway. I don't think it's "magic." I don't think it can somehow miraculously bypass the need for a caloric deficit to lose weight. I'm also not starving myself. I'm not a big guy and with a 15:9 or 16:8 fast I can still cram away 4k+ calories sometimes.

I feel a lot better eating this way. Of course, experiences differ. There is some research that shows it affects men and women differently.

NOISY. The roosters woke me up this morning. I don't know why, but the way they crow is the same melody as the first three notes to "Immigrant Song." It is not the ideal way to wake up.

They're healthy though, so that's good!