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The MLM Maximization Protocol: 88 High Performance Tips to Kick Off 2025

PLUS, Greg’s 2024 Year in Review

Author

Greg Scheinman
January 05, 2025

Morning, Greg here! Welcome to Issue No. 23 of Midlife Male, the lifestyle magazine for midlife men, by midlife men. I wanted to personally welcome all our new readers, and if this newsletter was forwarded to you, subscribe below.

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How I Saw 2024 by Greg Scheinman

As I reflect on 2024, I'm struck by how much this year has taught me about conscious choice-making and personal growth. How far I've come, and how far I still have to go. 

The most precious gifts I received weren't material possessions, but handmade cards from my boys—reminders of what truly matters and perhaps that some of the things I’m doing and saying are getting through.

This year tested my emotional maturity in unexpected ways. 

I received a hurtful DM filled with assumptions and accusations from someone I hadn't spoken to since high school—’91 to be exact— and I was fucking pissed. 

My ego, temper, and pride all wanted to lash back out. I don’t have much “flight” in the “fight or flight” response, but I’ve adopted a mantra that “I no longer need to participate in every fight I get invited to.” This growth in emotional intelligence is something I'm particularly proud of. 

Back on the family side, one of our proudest moments was my son Harper's acceptance to Loyola Marymount University (LMU). He earned a partial design scholarship—a testament to his talent and hard work. He starts in the fall.  

At 52, I'm at this interesting three-way intersection of trying to live and lead by example for my sons who have their whole lives ahead of them. To Live and lead by example for all of us men in middle age, who also still have our whole lives ahead of us. And also cut myself some slack and acknowledge that I shouldn’t be living and leading for anyone else but myself as that’s more than enough. 

I was fortunate enough to take some amazing trips this year as well. 

Three stood out as particularly transformative:

  • Ten days in Boulder with my family - hiking, eating, moving Auden back into his apartment, connecting. 

  • A week spent with Kate in Cabo just the two of us. 

  • 29029 in Mont Tremblant with 17 amazing friends and a community of hundreds

  •  Aspen at SoulFire ranch with our first group of Inner Circle guys

2024 Brought Me a Few Physical Challenges 

This year I've been managing thoracic outlet syndrome, learning to focus on what I can do rather than what I cannot. On my 52nd birthday, I embarked on a 52-mile walk—an endeavor that taught me a humbling lesson about the impact of concrete on the human body. I can’t thank Sterling and Haviland Hawkins enough for coming down and doing it with me.  

There’s no way I would have completed it alone. Kate joined for 6 miles, Harper & his girlfriend for 3 miles and Auden came straight from the airport to give me a hug at mile 30…

This year marked significant milestones for Midlife Male and professional achievements as well.

We interviewed 52 new and amazing individuals, reached over 1,000,000 views on social media in the last 90 days, and we’re about to hit 20,000 newsletter subscribers.  

We established meaningful brand partnerships with NADS, Blokes, MindBodyGreen, Sisu Sauna, and Plunge. These partnerships aren't pseudo-influential relationships but carefully curated, authentically influential connections with brands I use and trust every day. We want “Midlife Male Approved" to truly mean something. 

I took a significant step forward by bringing on a partner/investor to help take this platform beyond me. It's really about our contributors, community members, readers and YOU. 

Financially, I had a solid year in both earnings and investment growth. At the same time, I'm acutely aware of how expensive it is to live the way we do—something I plan to explore more deeply in my writing next year.

Looking Forward: 2025 Intentions. 

Several "misogi" events await in 2025: I’ll be in Savannah with my boys for a father son “Warrior Weekend” as you read this. More on that next week… I booked a trip to Italy with Kate to visit Auden who's studying abroad in Florence; 29029 in Jackson Hole to go for my black bib; and HYROX competition in March because my arm didn’t allow me to get it done in ‘24.

My Core Mantra for 2025 is to Master the Middle. 

Every morning, I'll continue to get to work, talk to myself, record it and share it with you. Without fear of failure or judgment, but simply to be honest, real, vulnerable, and me. Because that's enough. And for each of you reading this—you're also enough. Yet we can take exactly who we are and never stop working to be a little bit better each day.

2024 reinforced an important truth: Sometimes the most significant growth comes not from what we choose to do, but from what we consciously choose not to do. 

Whether it's declining to engage in unnecessary conflict or strategically refocusing our business efforts, wisdom often lies in knowing when to step back, reassess, and choose a different path forward.

Being at the intersection of helping men maximize middle age—that's what drives me, and that's what 2024 has been all about.

And in the spirit of sharing all I’ve learned these past twelve months, I wanted to share my entire protocol with you: what I eat, what supplements I take, how I train, what I wear, all of it across all of our six Fs. 

We’re calling it the MLM Maximization Protocol. I think you’re going to really enjoy this. Take what works for you and leave the rest.

In Health, 

Greg 

The MLM Maximization Protocol: 88 High Performance Tips to Kick Off 2025

Blood Work & Monitoring

  • I get a complete blood panel every 90 days through Blokes 

  • Regular monitoring and adjustment of supplements based on results

Morning Routine

Pre-Breakfast

  • 5 grams creatine mixed with 20 ounces of water as soon as I wake up

Coffee

Daily Core Supplements (mindbodygreen)

  • Ultimate multivitamin

  • Omega-3s

  • Eye health supplement

  • Turmeric

  • Probiotic

Hormone & Performance Protocol - I use Blokes for this as well 

TRT (Testosterone Replacement Therapy)

  • Twice weekly injections

  • Schedule: Tuesdays and Fridays

  • Berberine

  • Chromium Picolinate

  • CoQ10

  • DIM

  • L-Glutamine

  • All dosages as prescribed through Blokes based on my bloodwork - This works in conjunction with MBG supplements.

  • Cellular Energy

  • Muscle Strength and Endurance

  • Mitopure Urolithin A

Advanced Supplements

NAD+

  • I just started taking this December 23rd, 2024 (52nd birthday)

  • Following recommended protocol of 2 injections per week, done at same time as my TRT

Peptides

  • Nasal spray (similar to BPC-157)

  • Used as directed

As-Needed Supplements

  • Element electrolytes

  • Additional Vitamin C

  • Vitamin D3

Fitness, Technology, Equipment & Training 

  • I use Whoop as a tracking device for recovery, sleep and strain monitoring

  • Apple Watch Ultra for activity tracking

  • Bose noise-canceling headphones as I need music to train

  • I love the ErgZone app integrated with Concept2 equipment:

    • Rowing erg

    • Ski erg

    • Bike erg

Training Apps & Programs

  • Ladder fitness app is the best out there

  • Training programs I use:

    • Resilient

    • Project Alpha 

    • Forged

    • Vitality 

Weekly Training Split

Strength Training

  • Weight training: 3-4 sessions per week

Cardiovascular & Combat

  • Boxing: 1 session per week

  • Dog walks: 2x daily for active recovery

  • Swimming: As frequently as possible

Recovery & Mobility

  • Yoga: 1 session per week

  • Mobility work: YouTube-guided programs as warm-up

  • Physical therapy: Every 10 days

  • Massage therapy: Bi-weekly or as needed

Hot/Cold Therapy Protocol

  • Frequency: 3-5 times per week

  • Cold plunge: I own a Plunge unit

    • Temperature: 45°F

    • Duration: 2 minutes

  • Sauna: I own both Sisu Sauna (Barrel) & Sunlighten (Infrared) 

    • For Sisu I keep it at Temperature: 190°F

    • Duration: 15-20 minutes

    • For Sunlighten I go 150 degrees and 30 minutes 

Conditioning

  • Platform: ErgZone app

  • Equipment: Integrated with all Concept2 ergs

  • Focus: Both aerobic and anaerobic training

Recovery & Sleep

  • Sleep target: 7-8 hours per night

  • Regular physical therapy

  • Massage therapy as needed

Training Philosophy

  • Primary focus areas:

    • Mobility

    • Sustainability

    • Longevity

  • Balanced approach combining:

    • Strength training

    • Cardiovascular fitness

    • Recovery

    • Mobility work

    • Hot/cold therapy

Skincare

I've found a skincare routine that works for me. I want to share it with you because I believe in the importance of taking care of yourself, inside and out.

Morning Routine

  1. Cleanse face with Atwater facial bar (We have a relationship with Atwater; use any of our links for 20% off.)

  2. Apply Atwater eye moisturizer

  3. Apply Timeline cellular energy serum

  4. Layer Timeline day cream

  5. Finish with Atwater facial moisturizer

Evening Routine

  1. Cleanse face with Atwater facial bar

  2. Apply prescription retinol

  3. Apply Timeline serum

  4. Finish with Timeline cellular energy night cream

Weekly Care

Treatment Products

Professional Treatments

  • Botox on forehead every 4-5 months

Oral Care

Fashion

Here are the best things I bought for my wardrobe this year. 

Basics & T-Shirts:

Outerwear:

Denim:

Comfort & Loungewear:

Athletic Wear & Sneakers:

Classic Footwear:

Formal Wear:

Sunglasses:

RayBan Wayfarers - black.  Classic 

Best places I stayed this year

The Proper - Austin

The Conrad - Nashville

The St. Anthony - San Antonio 

Saint Cecilia - Austin

The Solaz - Cabo 

Mr. C - Coconut Grove, Miami

The Proper - Santa Monica 

Nine Orchard - New York 

SoulFire Ranch - Aspen (Private) 

Mont Tremblant Resort - For 29029 

*Bold indicates Marriott property. I use the Bonvoy Amex and try to stay loyal to Marriott and maintain my Titanium Status. I literally pay my taxes, college & private school tuition and everything I can on this card. The benefits are tremendous. Here’s my Amex referral link. Use it and we could both earn rewards if you are approved and get a Card.

And finally, one of my longtime sayings is: 

“Show me your calendar, and I’ll show you your priorities.”

For me, the things I put on my calendar ahead of time ARE my priorities, and I highly recommend you do the same.

Here are the major items on my calendar for January 2025. You don’t have to use any fancy software or app or a high-priced journal. I use the Notes app in my phone and it works fine.

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