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Hey there!
I’ve missed our Fridays together!

My brief sabbatical was very productive. Thanks for your patience over the last few weeks. I’m so happy to be back and on our upgraded newsletter platform!

I’ve divvied up current longevity research into five easy-to-manage and easy-to-remember categories called the Pounce Pot Protocol. Explore our purpose and guiding philosophy in the Pounce Pot Post.

But categories won’t inspire you (or me!) to do anything. That’s where The Weekly Pounce helps out. Each week, I’m right here to offer suggestions and share stories about about how we can be proactive in our healthspan journey.

Let’s get to it! — Laura Lee

Boost Your Brain

Why I Keep Playing a Game I Can’t Win

I often write about how much I love to play games. Whether you’re playing Connections alone or Scrabble with a group of friends, games that keep you thinking are not only helpful to Boost Your Brain, they also bring some much needed fun and laughter in your day.

…unless it’s Foldology. I’m so obsessed with this difficult, part-origami, part-puzzle challenge. Here’s the problem: I can’t do it. I literally cannot do it. Meanwhile, my 22-year-old daughter has raced through half of the entire stack of 100 while I watch her like a stunned bystander.

But do I keep trying? YES!

Will I let it defeat me? NO!

Practicing mental challenges can be a fun way to protect your future brain health. Think of demanding games (along with higher education, new skills, creating art, playing music, dancing, etc.) as one way we can store up extra brain cells to work for us later. Very simply, that’s basically how it works.

Just like with learning a second language, it’s not the mastery that’s important, it’s the challenge. So if your daily Sudoku is getting too easy, it’s time to move yourself up a level. I might not make it past the first two Foldology puzzle sheets this week, but I’m not giving up!

Connect & Thrive

Loneliness is a Signal

I recently wrote about organizing fun, reoccurring social dates with a friend or a group of friends. We’ve also talked about using online platforms like Zoom or WhatsApp to help facilitate calls when meeting in person isn’t an option.

This article from Berkeley University’s Greater Good Science Center, does an excellent job of explaining why these connections are so important to our longevity. It also provides some very helpful pointers on how to be a better listener.

The author highlights the former U.S. Surgeon General, Vivek Murthy, opening up about his personal loneliness. Dr. Murthy explains that loneliness is a signal we feel when our body is “lacking something we need for survival,” very similar to thirst and hunger pangs.

More significantly, loneliness can negatively impact our health as much as smoking 15 cigarettes per day. (Yikes!)

This week, sit down with a nice cuppa (as our British friends say), take a few minutes to read the essay, and then reach out to someone in person or online and really listen to them and connect for 15 minutes.

Harness Hidden Powers

New Blood Pressure Guidelines

Please do not miss the first new blood pressure guidelines published in nearly a decade!

The American Heart Association (AHA) and the American College of Cardiology (ACC) have released their first new blood pressure guidelines since 2017, impacting nearly half of all adults in the U.S.

This updated advice goes beyond just basic blood pressure tips. They reveal “surprising” and “new” connections critical for “long-term brain health and overall well-being.” [My emphasis!]

Keeping your blood pressure in check is one of your absolutely most important hidden powers to harness. Please pinky-promise me you’re going to read the new guidelines, and do not wait for your yearly physical to monitor your blood pressure. Get an updated measurement this week.

Personally, I use a home monitor that I bought in Cayman, but they’re also available in your local drug stores or on . Read about the updated guidelines this week, and take action immediately if your blood pressure is higher than the new standards.

Fuel Your Journey

Whey vs. Pea Protein

Okay, maybe it’s just me, but I’ve never really understood if whey or pea protein is better. Throw in collagen powder options, and it gets really confusing.

I ran across this article last week and found it very helpful. One has a lot more sodium but has significantly more iron. The other has a bit more protein. And of course, while both are vegetarian friendly, only pea protein is vegan-appropriate.

My sweet and thoughtful neighbor, Melody, brought me over a little surcie the other day. Of course, she totally knew that I’d be crazy excited about her gift of little bags filled with generous samples from her favorite protein powders for me to try.

Tasting a few and reading more about the differences helped me to decide which brand and type to buy. Test out a sample bag for yourself this week after you decide if whey or pea is better for you.

But remember, protein powders aren’t regulated by the FDA, so check your labels very carefully for third-party evaluations. Superior quality protein powders aren’t inexpensive, unfortunately.

If you want to try out our favorite brand, here’s a link, and if you want to learn about why we need protein, take a look here. It’s a vital part of fueling your journey toward a strong future.

Stay Active

Why I Can’t Seem to Get to the Gym (and Why I Still Need to!)

I’ve confessed before that I have a hard time getting to the gym. It’s ridiculous because we have a nice YMCA about two miles from my house. It takes me maybe 10 minutes to get there. Round trip with a workout would be about an hour, or less! An hour, give or take, to build up a lifetime of much-needed reserves for my fabulous future self. Riiight?

So what’s the hesitation? It’s a topic I often delve into with my friend, Executive/HNWI Coach, Holly Stewart. I will continue to explore the motivation (and hesitations) behind forming habits in longer blog posts. 

Perhaps I’ve made my home gym equipment so convenient that I’ve completely replaced the gym. Regardless of where we choose to exercise, however, it’s absolutely crucial that we keep up (or start) strength training.

Start light. Build gradually. Lean on friends to stay accountable.

If you need more encouragement, here are a few other important reasons to aim for about two sessions with weights each week.

Strength training…

• Improves heart health by lowering your blood pressure and resting heart rate. This 2023 update in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that muscle-strengthening activities lead to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality.

• Supports metabolism by increasing muscle mass, reducing body fat, and improving insulin sensitivity.

• Protects bones and joints by increasing bone density and reducing the risk of osteoporosis.

• Boosts mental health by reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression. (How this works is complex, so I’ll continue to share research on this topic in the Pounce Pot Post.)

• Enhances longevity by up to four years by lengthening your telomeres. Read more in this recent study.

Hit reply or email me at [email protected] and let me know what your future self would say to you to encourage you to stay active.

Pounce Pick of the Week

Our family loves to play games that require thought and creativity (not just games of pure chance). These are our current favorite top three!

Pounce Pot Post

Pounce Pot Perspective

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😅 What do you think of this week’s issue? I’d love to hear your thoughts, questions, & suggestions. What’s your favorite section? Let me know! [email protected]

☺️ Missed out on previous issues? If you have a little time this week, catch up in our newsletter archive.