The Way Forward Issue #002

Hello Family! I just returned from an epic 16 day road trip with my kids. Between driving, packing, camping and making memories with the kids I didn’t have much time to engage. But that is what summer is about! These are the moments we cherish.

Hope you have been enjoying yours.

Let’s dive into this weeks newsletter to kick off your day.

GROWING GOOD

This week I turned 48. When we’re young, we spend so much time thinking about the future—what we want to achieve, who we want to become. But as we grow older, our thoughts often turn backward. We start asking different questions: What kind of legacy will I leave? How will my choices shape the lives of my family and community?

For the past two weeks, I’ve been on a road trip adventure with my two kids, exploring Washington, Oregon, and the rugged beauty of the Pacific coast. Our days were filled with simple joys—beach fires, roasted s’mores, and sunsets that painted the sky.

One of the things I love about Oregon is that you can have fires right on the beach—something that’s often not allowed back home in Canada. In Cannon Beach, we decided we’d make the most of it. We headed to the store, armed with a shopping list: wood, kindling, lighter fluid, fire starters and hot dogs. We thought we were set.

What we weren’t prepared for was how bad we’d be at actually starting a beach fire. Our first attempt fizzled quickly—what started strong collapsed into a sad little flicker. I watched our dreams of our epic beach fire die a slow death. The vision of S’mores, a family cookout and Kumbaya was slowly fading into huge disappointment. I was feeling I was letting my kids down.

Still, we pressed on, feeding it more paper, trying every trick we could think of. Finally, just as the sun began to sink, we had lift-off. The fire roared to life. Hot dogs sizzled (some with a sprinkle of sand for “seasoning”), and the sky blushed over Haystack Rock. My daughter danced and cartwheeled across the sand, my son dipped his toes in the ocean, and I just watched it all unfold.

What I thought would be a failure became one of my favorite memories. The trip to get the supplies. The fire that almost wasn’t. The way we all rallied together to keep it going. Our team work made the dream work.

You see life isn’t about perfection—it’s about these moments. The ones where we connect, laugh, and simply be. Legacy isn’t always built in grand achievements. More often, it’s found in nights like these—fires on the beach, laughter in the air, and the people you love by your side. You will find yourself looking back, laughing and connecting around the good, the bad and the ugly but what you will remember most is how you had each other and that you did it together.

Wherever your journey takes you, don’t strive for perfection. Strive to be present. Absorb the moment. Hold onto it!

In the end we ended up getting the most insane sunset from what seemed to be the most perfect summer night. How could you possibly fail in moments like these!

BUCKET LIST TRAVEL

If you’re looking for your next adventure, you’ll want to add Under Canvas Columbia Gorge to your must-visit list. Known for creating unforgettable glamping destinations near national parks, Under Canvas has now opened a breathtaking property in the Columbia Gorge, with sweeping views of Mount Hood.

This is glamping at its finest—combining the beauty of the outdoors with just the right touch of comfort. The property features 50 luxury canvas tents, each equipped with its own bathroom and shower, giving you the best of both worlds: rustic vibes and modern convenience. With on-site dining for breakfast and dinner, you can spend more time enjoying the property and less time worrying about logistics which this dad loves to hear!

Whether you’re planning a family trip or a peaceful getaway, Under Canvas Columbia Gorge is the perfect way to immerse yourself in nature while still enjoying a little glam. You can read more about my experience and see all the details over on my blog!

LIVING WELL

Learning this one thing will shift everything you know about food. But first, we have to do some myth busting. You have probably heard carbs are bad and how people think eating carbs will make you gain weight. But what if I told you that during my fitness transformation, I ate carbs and got lean.

Yes, I ate lots of carbs on my fitness journey. The truth is it is about eating the right carbs in the right amount. This will make carbs your friend on your fitness journey. So rejoice.. there is a potato in your future!

The same goes for fats. You need healthy fats everyday but once again the you need the right fat in the right amount. This is where tracking comes in but we will touch on that next week.

The Power of Macros
For years, I thought eating “healthy” was just about avoiding junk food. But the real shift happened when I learned about macronutrients—protein, carbohydrates, and fats—and how balancing them daily completely changes the way your body looks and feels.

Macros aren’t just nutrition jargon; they’re the fuel your body runs on. Once you understand how to work with them instead of against them, everything clicks into place.

How to Balance Them
Here’s the simple breakdown: protein builds and repairs your muscles, carbs give you energy for workouts and daily life, and fats support hormones, brain health, and recovery. When I started tracking and making sure every meal included these three, my energy went up, my workouts got stronger, and my body started to shift. Aiming for about 30–40% of your calories from protein, 30–40% from carbs, and 20–30% from healthy fats is a great starting point. Suddenly, it wasn’t about restriction—it was about fueling.

Why This Changes Everything
The aha moment is realizing your body doesn’t just change by eating less—it changes when you give it what it actually needs. For me, prioritizing protein (hitting my daily grams goal), choosing carbs that gave me energy instead of crashing, and adding in healthy fats made all the difference. It’s not about a “diet,” it’s about learning the formula your body thrives on. Once you experience how powerful it feels to fuel with intention, you’ll never look at food the same way again.

Here is a sample meal plan to show you how you can hit your daily macro goal and shows you how much you can actually eat while getting fit!

Breakfast

Totals: ~40g protein, 35g carbs, 17g fat

Lunch

Totals: ~50g protein, 45g carbs, 17g fat

Snack / Post-Workout

Totals: ~48g protein, 33g carbs, 14g fat

Dinner

Totals: ~46g protein, 43g carbs, 15g fat

Day Totals: ~200g protein, 156g carbs, 51g fat

Here is a sample chart to help show you a breakdown.

NEXT WEEK

I have a hot take on social media and where it is at the moment. If you are looking to grow and scale your presence on social, you will love this take. Continue to dive in with me as I share more travel spots, life lessons and more around wellness. We are just getting started!

This content is all about empowering you!

LET”S STAY CONNECTED

I trust this newsletter was valuable to you. I’m a big believer that if you can apply one thing it can make all the difference in your life. If something resonated with you, I would love to hear from you. You can do a few things to engage with me.

Wishing you the best week as we journey on The Way Forward!