"...Only entropy comes easy...." (and) "...Let us learn to appreciate there will be times when the trees will be bare, and look forward to the time when we may pick the fruit..." Anton Chekhov
Welcome to the About page at Skinny Devil Music Lab, web-home of award-winning guitarist David M. McLean. Soon, we will be able to converse so that I might better guide you on your journey through the Music Lab, but for now enjoy your visit.
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"Sounds crazy. Why do you do it?"
"To be 100% physically, mentally, and emotionally available for my family, friends, and my life."
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Be sure to visit David at My Space!
David live (acoustic), 2006.
David with Christopher after Via Ferrata rock climbing, 2007.
David live (electric), 2006.
Inspired by works such as "Supersize Me" (and the raw food counter-punch "Supercharge Me"), Tonya Kay's nutiritional E-book for raw vegans, and more, David is currently collecting data - tracking his daily diet and exercise - for an E- book that examines the nutritional validity of the raw paleo approach.
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Raw Food & Fitness
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* EmploymentRaw Food & Fitness As mentioned on the "About" page, I resisted discussion of diet & fitness (not to mention politics, dreadlocks, religion, and other non-music related issues) at SkinnyDevil.Com for a long time. I've resisted because I want to keep this web-site less about me as a person and more focused on my work as a musician, instructor, composer, producer, performer, and the like...plus there are many others out there more qualified than me to discuss these things.However, as I've received lots mail & other communications on the topic, I've finally decide to go ahead and discuss it.
Raw Food Diet
Like the name implies, I eat mostly raw food. Raw as in fresh, un-cooked, unprocessed, and - as much as possible - organic food. By instinct, I always preferred raw & rare foods, but like most American kids, ate plenty of hotdogs & candy bars growing up.My first conscious shift to raw began in 1991 when reading about Toshitsugu Takamatsu (the Mongoloan Tiger), which caused me to analyze my eating habits in a new way. This led to a very intentional shift to a higher level of raw and, more importantly, the final removal of junk foods from my daily intake.
Around 2003, after several small adjustments, I ramped it up to my current level of raw: Maintaining at least 80% raw (by calorie, not volume or weight). My actual daily average is actually closer to 90-95% raw (I start each day with either hot lemon water or a roasted-soy coffee alternative mix).
"So, what do you eat, and what are the exceptions? Are you vegetarian or vegan?"
No, I am not vegetarian and no, I am not vegan. Yes, this means I eat raw meat (mostly sashimi, but also red meats periodically). No, I am not concerned with parasites and such (though you should be if you are new to raw). No, I am not straight-edge, though I only drink occasionally and prefer the high of living by bliss. Yes, I upon occasion eat cooked food (I dig popcorn and those amazing blue corn chips, and we even have "junk days" when I'll eat stir-fry) and sometimes sear meats (beef tataki). Mostly, I eat fruits & veggies, and also raw fish a few times a week. I eat no breads or pastas at all, and I eat no milk/dairy. I gorge on red meats in ritualistic manner: at each solstice & equinox.
"Sounds crazy. Why do you do that?"
Because I feel like it, bub (hahaha!). It's part of a larger life philosophy for me...one that embraces optimum performance, optimum living, love, sex, violence, music, art, and much more...all ground in our primal past. Has to do with being 100% physically, mentally, and emotionally available for my family, my friends, and my life. Chew on that for a while and we'll talk more later.
If you are interested in raw foodist specifics, try reading the Wiki article on Raw Foodism while bearing in mind that while I don't follow any particular brand of Raw Foodism, my habits most closely resemble that of "Anopsology" (so-called "instinctive eating") and the Paleolithic Diet. If you have questions after that, feel free to drop me a line.
Health & Fitness
Blame the boyscouts, or my dad maybe (who made me do push-ups & pull-ups when I got in trouble), but I feel a personal moral obligation to be in excellent physical condition...plus it's just damn fun!
"How do you stay in shape?"
Depends on what you mean by "shape", I guess. I eat right and exercise and live a fairly active life that is physically, mentally, and spiritually challenging and stimulating.
"Do you work out? If so, what do you do?"
Yes, I do. In addition to activities like hiking & riding my bike & banging the drums & taking Ria dancing & stick-fighting & mowing my lawn with a human-powered push mower & working in our organic garden & swimming & all that, I work out about 5 days a week.
I rely on body-weight exercises (I almost never pick up weights) and a punching bag. I often fall back on my "Big 10" routines. That is, pick about 3 exercises (say, push-ups, squats, & calf raises) and do 10 sets of each in circuit. For example, 25 push-ups, 35 squats, 50 calf raises right in a row, then repeat 10 times. Or 10 pull-ups, 50 fighter squats, 100 jumping jacks (times ten sets). Or 12 chin-ups, 50 sit-ups, 12 dips (times ten sets). No breaks in between, which keeps that heart rate high.
With the punching bag, I do no less than 3 (no more than 10) 3-5 minute rounds. My typical day sees me spending a minimum of 20 minutes and a maximum of 90 minutes on a workout. Usually one workout per day, but sometimes two.
I also occasionally engage in a Fitness Challenge where we try for one week to beat a personal best or compete with others. Things like most push-ups in a minute or most pull-ups in one set or the fastest mile.
I hope that answers all the questions, but if not, feel free to contact me.
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You can make donations in David's Pay-Pal tip-jar by using VISA, Mastercard, Discover, or other major credit cards; checking account; or a PayPal account. Just click the button below.All music on this site (c) 1999 - 2005, D. M. McLean; (P) Morgan Star Music, BMI.
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SDML web-site first published 1999; last up-date: 2005