Social – Gays in the Life

Say yes to Tenzo Matcha!

Posted on June 29, 2018 by Jamal in FATboys, Social

Matcha tea is one of the cleanest ways to get a boost of energy when afternoons are moving entirely too slow. Tenzo Matcha packs an anti-oxidizing punch that gives you a clean boost in productivity without the harsh crash too many cups of coffee can inflict.

When you consume Tenzo Matcha, you’re receiving the benefits of the entire green tea plant. The fine powder mixed with 6 ounces of water – or my favorite, unsweetened coconut milk – promotes improved brain health, prevents memory loss, faster metabolism, AND healthy skin. What’s also pretty cool is the production of Tenzo Matcha.

Tenzo Matcha comes straight from Japan and is grown in volcanic soil! This makes the product especially powerful when it comes to the nutrients you receive. I encourage you all to give this miracle plant and Tenzo Matcha a try if you’re looking to improve your quality of life. Learn more about Tenzo Co and read more about the benefits mentioned earlier and more:

https://tenzotea.co/

Thryving

Posted on June 21, 2018June 21, 2018 by Jamal in Social

For as long as I can remember, I’ve had gut issues. While I’ve never been officially diagnosed with any condition, I struggled with random pain and irregularity. Many of us underestimate the importance of gut health. We hear “gut health” and think “huh?”

Think of your gut as your second brain. What you feed it will determine how well you Thryve when it comes to this area of your personal health. Thryve Inside is a company dedicated to helping you discover the benefits of great Gut Health and provides personalized solutions to fit your microbiome. I’ve been lucky enough to partner with Thryve Inside for this post and share my experience with the product I’ve been trying for the past month.

Before adding Thryve’s probiotic supplement to my daily routine, digestion was a huge issue for me. I could go two to three days before having a bowel movement. What’s crazy is this became normal for me. I was used to the heaviness, used to the bloat, and eventually phased the issue out of concern’s range.

Around age eight I began to gain weight and stayed pretty heavy through early college. My freshman year of college, I weighed about three-hundred and ten pounds. I stand about six feet tall, so I carried my weight well back when I was heavier. That doesn’t mean my health was any better than the next bloated Joe and I came to realize that much later.

In the thirty days I used Thryve’s probiotic product, I’ve lost around nine pounds, have regular digestion, and feel a new kind of comfort inside. Before Thryve I would drink kombucha a couple times a week to help my digestion issues; this helped, but only so much. I don’t think I’ve ever had regular bowel movements, even after going low-carb. Today, I live a more ketogenic lifestyle, so the consumption of healthy fats and the Thryve product combined has me feeling light, energetic, and comfortable. Yes, comfortable. I’m able to go through a full day without feeling bloated, heavy, or irritable.

Another aspect of Thryve that I’ve been enjoying are the weekly newsletters. Thryve subscribers receive updates, tips, video interviews, and articles to keep motivated on their gut health journey. I love a newsletter. I’m the customer who wants to read and access anything I can, on whatever topic, so I be sure I’m on the right path. Each short-and-sweet email provides quick info and links to more information and easy-to-follow discussion. Thryve ensures their customer is educated and equipped with all the tools for gut health success.

Learn more here! And thanks for stopping by,

Thanks for Coming!: My RuPaul’s Drag Race Podcast.

Posted on March 18, 2018 by Jamal in Social

Are you a fan of RuPaul’s Drag Race? Well get into this gig! Join us weekly as discuss all things RuPaul’s Drag Race and much more. We’re currently wrapping up on All Stars 3 coverage and are gearing up for season 10! We’re so pumped and worn out.. back to back seasons?! YAS.

New episodes every Monday!

Show link:

iTunes – apple.co/2o0hvmw
SoundCloud – https://soundcloud.com/tfcpod
Stitcher – https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/thanks-for-coming

Social Media:

Facebook – Facebook.com/ThankssforComing
Twitter & Instagram – @tfcpod

Thanks for Coming!

Thanks for Coming!: RuPaul’s Drag Race, LGBTQ Culture, and more.

Posted on March 5, 2018March 5, 2018 by Jamal in Social

Tune in this week and join the conversation! Of COURSE we’re discussing BenDeLaCreme and her decision to drop out of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 3. Crazy, right?!

Not only is this week’s episode 2 hours, but we’ve got exclusive clips from the viewing party BenDeLa hosted in Seattle the night the episode aired!

All Stars 3, Episode 6: BenDeLaCreme’s Coffee Hour

Stanning for Black Panther

Posted on February 20, 2018February 21, 2018 by Jamal in GITL, Social

I’ve got to get this out my system. The Black Panther movie was so great. I don’t know how else to say it. This movie was the superhero movie I didn’t know I needed.

Marvel is a franchise that does very well for itself, but there’s one thing we have to admit… the storylines and faces of epic white men and women somehow merge into one blob of the same ol’ story.

Getting to see a movie of this magnitude with a society and a hero made up of people who look like me was a pretty cool experience. Not only did Director Ryan Coogler manage to get so many strong, black messages on the big screen, but each and every character was fun to get to know and kept the audience interested.

As a viewer of color, I appreciated the timing of this movie. It’s already pretty tough to navigate life as a black, gay man, but doing it in Trump’s America is even more exhausting. The Black Panther was the motivation and push that I needed – a reminder to love myself, cherish my history and heritage, and to be the best version of myself.

Sure, it’s just another Marvel movie, but this is a huge deal! Never before has the black community had something like this. Representation in all avenues and facets of life is so important because it inspires future generations (of all colors and backgrounds).

Inspiration is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the glory of this cast and their performances. All this black excellence! Lupita Nyong’o, Angela Bassett, Chadwick Boseman, Danai Gurira, and so many more. So much female strength and empowerment throughout the movie. And the attention to detail! All of the tribes were designed and styled based on authentic African tribes.

Okay, so I’m stanning a little bit. Stanning is when you’re “being overzealous or an obsessive fan of a particular celebrity.” All jokes aside, yes this movie is amazing to me because it was based in a black society with a black hero.

Most of the black roles we see on the big screen play supporting roles of some type or there has to be some sad undertone. Not all black stories are rooted in pain, suffering, or slavery. While all of those stories are important and a major part of my history, we as a people have been waiting for stories that are brighter and share successes; our triumphs.

In the Black Panther movie we see tough, all female warriors, a thriving black society with crazy tech and scientists, and heritage and tradition challenged. As a black dude who just recently received his AncestryDNA results, this movie made me want to dig more into my heritage and also made me think about what tradition meant to me.

I appreciate this movie so much.

Black Panther nailed it.

Ok, I’m done.

3 Things Keeping us Happy at the Moment

Posted on November 5, 2017 by Jamal in GITL, Social

November is here! And with a new month comes new and refreshed interests in our day-to-day activities. One of my favorite podcasts, NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour, has a weekly segment in which they share what’s making them happy that particular week. Every week, host Linda Holmes and a few other NPR panelists and guests share tidbits of pop culture that happen to be filling their individual happy tanks with joy. Items shared in the past include music, television shows, literature, video games, and don’t forget that viral video or meme everyone’s discussing. Here are a few things that’re keeping S and I happy at the moment:

Roseanne

This show is hilarious, undeniably relatable, and is filled with effortless humor. S and I have been spending a great deal of time with the Conner family in between IU basketball and The Real Housewives of fill-in-the-blank. We started season one at the end of September and found ourselves beginning season seven this afternoon. Every detail from the way the characters dress, down to the snacks the Conner kids eat is similar to how S and I grew up in the 90s. Another aspect of Roseanne that we appreciate is its honesty. This family is nowhere near keeping up with the Joneses and they don’t try to be. Roseanne and Dan Conner do their best to provide for their family and celebrate every victory that comes their way. The show was also way ahead of its time in the way it discussed (current) social issues.

Our Immersion Blender

This nifty little handheld device is usually used to whip up a great tomato bisque soup or keto mayo. With the weather starting to change, making things a bit more chilly, I’ve been having some fun with blended coffees in the morning. First I pour an 8-12 ounce cup of dark roast coffee in the blending cup, followed by a splash of unsweetened coconut milk, a scoop of Perfect Keto chocolate sea salt exogenous ketone powder, and finally a blend of ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and pumpkin spice seasonings. I then blend the mixture for about a minute or so before pouring the finished product in a mug or travel tumbler. You could easily make this in a shaker, but you’ll find the ingredients come together much better with the help of the immersion blender.

The Weather!

I’m usually ready for summer to be over by the time it actually ends. If it could be fall the months of September through May, and summer for the remaining months, that would be perfect. Does anyone know if a place like this exists? The air is finally feeling a bit more crisp, and the leaves are creating plenty of social-media-worthy opportunities with the gorgeous array of colors falling to the ground. The arrival of fall also means the temperature is sitting just right – completely void of Jack Frost or humidity hell if you’re out for a jog or long walk with the dog. A few other things the current weather has us pumped for include: crockpot meals, fall fashion, basketball (for S), and scarves (for me)! I love good scarf in the wind moment when I’m walking down a breezy pathway.

What’s making you all happy at the moment? Let us know in the comments. Thanks for stopping by!

The Man on the Bike

Posted on September 15, 2017September 17, 2017 by Jamal in Social, Uncategorized

Where is he going? Every couple days or so I spot him leading the trail of cars that’s anxiously trying to get around him. Other oncoming traffic and myself keeps this from happening and deep down I’m glad. He’s confident, black, and moving at a slow pace down the 40 mile per hour stretch. I’m unable to guess his age and I worry that one of these crazy drivers will strike him; knocking off his Kangol cap and harming what I believe to be a good soul.

He looks like he could be someone’s grandpa. He’s dressed in khakis and a jacket that hangs on either side of his bicycle; a sweater or plain button-up underneath. It’s usually around 4:47pm when I spot him, just before I go through two more roundabouts and make my way onto I-465 South, a tad closer to home. I wonder where he’s going or if he’s just running an errand. Regardless of where he’s headed, I always enter that first roundabout hoping that he makes it to his destination safely.

We’re all in such a hurry at the end of the workday. Rushing home to whatever petty matter we feel is of the utmost importance. For me, that’s getting off the road and home to my yoga shorts. The man on the bike reminds me to slow down; to take my time. Slow and steady wins the race. Slow and steady keeps you safe. A piece of me smiles each time I see him, because to me, it’s him letting me know he’s safe.

It’s Been 3 Years!

Posted on September 11, 2017September 16, 2017 by Jamal in GITL, Social, Uncategorized

Gays in the Life turned three years old yesterday. Can you believe that? I was listening to one of my favorite podcast this week when I found myself triggered. You see, the conversation centered around how perfectionism could be the cause of procrastination or the reason some people never go after their goals. Needless to say, The Friend Zone podcast struck a chord and it got me thinking about what growing the Gays in the Life platform has taught me. I suffered some major writer’s block this summer and wasn’t as productive as I would have liked to be. Large part of that was due to me being unable to get out of my head. Here are a few items that have contributed to both the darkest and lightest lessons over the past few years (and especially the past few months):

Productivity. When I started Gays in the Life I had more time and endless energy to put into ideas and content. Fast forward through a couple promotions, a busier work life, and time juggling personal projects and you’ll notice all that energy and time has gone out the window.

Today I’m slowly getting back into my groove and making time to fidget with the blog every couple days. If writer’s block is getting the best of me, I’m maintaining tasks for my side hustles or tweaking ideas to improve the GITL platform. The secret for me has been to remember the fun. Once the fun is gone, I’ll truly be doomed and none of you will see another blog post.

Next is my relationship; my marriage. Three years of diving into my marriage through the blogging medium most definitely shed some light on strengths and weaknesses – things we need to work on and things we can celebrate. Gays in the Life has become an ever-changing blueprint for our relationship.

Going through old posts, we recognize opportunities to learn and grow beyond the lessons we’ve already shared on the site. We jump at any chance to improve below average scenarios and capitalize on shared victories. My heart dances because S and I have been able to share our experiences and paint a realistic view of what it takes to survive the early years of marriage.

Balance has been trying and tricky the last few years. I touched on it lightly at the top of the post when I mentioned having a busier work life and juggling personal projects. Navigating my perceived lack of availability was exhausting and began to eat at my creative process. My life was evolving in other areas and keeping it all together and on track was a challenge.

Instead of getting caught up in the sludge of life I do my best to keep to the schedule and goals I set, and don’t beat myself up about missing any desired deadlines. Another helpful trick to keep your cool when you feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day, is to reflect on the things you did accomplish that day. A quick reminder that you aren’t completely worthless never hurt anyone – and remember, you have the same amount of hours in the day as Beyonce.

With all that being said, I’m happy and appreciative for how Gays in the Life continues to morph. From the early stages of focusing on content only and maintaining the basics of the site, to present day where I’m digging more into GITL social media analytics and elevated site design… I’m challenged, inspired, and feel the next phase of evolution on the horizon.

We’ve got some fun things coming your way on GaysintheLife.com and it only works with your support. So thank you all for hanging in there with us.

Cheers,

Loser

Posted on July 9, 2017July 9, 2017 by Jamal in GITL, Social, Uncategorized

I’m such a bad loser. Most of the time I can feel myself getting angrier if I’m not doing as well as I’d like to be.

Back in high school I was on the varsity bowling team and I would be so annoyed if I scored anything lower than 175; my highest game bowled is 257.

I can remember every sour note and terrible solo performance from my high school band days and still haven’t revisited those recordings since then; I graduated in 2005.

Flash forward to today. The people playing Mario Kart online today are ruthless and I’ve been stuck at the back of the pack.

As mentioned above, I could feel myself growing angrier with each shell that met my cart; with each explosion I run into. My subtle bitching turned into silence. Still doing my best, I could see it just wasn’t happening for me today and I’d lost way too many points.

I could feel S looking out the corner of his eyes to gauge how agitated I’d become. I suppose it was my turn to be full of rage because of a video game today – usually it’s him!

Oh well. We like to have a couple drinks and play video games to decompress when we’re hanging out at the house. Maybe I’ll do better later.

He’s still playing at the moment. I had to step away.