The
Daily
Fix
5 rounds for time:
Shakshuka
Discussion on Glassman’s Definition of Health
Run 400 meters
8 squat snatches
Smoky, tomato–pepper shakshuka with gently set eggs, fresh herbs, feta cheese and an olive-oil finish
Greg's definition gives us a clear, practical way to assess and measure fitness, health, and even quality of life over time
Men snatch 135 lb.
Women snatch 95 lb.
Post time to comments.
Ingredients
1 Tbsp butter or beef tallow (for cooking)
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 (14 oz) can diced tomatoes (no sugar added)
1 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp ground cumin
½ tsp chili powder or cayenne (optional)
½ tsp coarse sea salt
½ tsp cracked black pepper
4 large eggs
¼ cup crumbled feta cheese (optional)
Fresh parsley or cilantro, chopped (for garnish)
1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil (for finishing)
Macronutrients
Protein: 37g
Fat: 54g
Carbs: 18g
Preparation
In a large skillet, melt the butter or tallow (1 Tbsp) over medium heat. Add the chopped onion (1 small) and sauté for 4–5 minutes until softened.
Add the minced garlic (2 cloves) and diced red bell pepper (1), cooking for another 3–4 minutes until the pepper softens.
Stir in the canned diced tomatoes (14 oz), smoked paprika (1 tsp), ground cumin (1 tsp), chili powder or cayenne (½ tsp, if using), salt (½ tsp), and black pepper (½ tsp). Simmer the sauce for 8–10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it thickens slightly.
Make four small wells in the sauce and carefully crack one egg into each well. Cover the skillet and cook on low heat for 6–8 minutes, or until eggs reach your desired doneness.
Sprinkle crumbled feta cheese (¼ cup) over the top, if using, and garnish with chopped parsley or cilantro.
Drizzle extra virgin olive oil (1 Tbsp total, divided) over the shakshuka before serving.
The strength of Coach Glassman’s new definition of health lies in its ability to give us a clear, practical way to assess and measure fitness, health, and even quality of life over time. At its simplest, fitness is the capacity to handle the demands of life. Those demands always involve moving your own body and moving external loads, which can be measured through the fundamental units of force, time, and distance.
More specifically, true fitness is expressed as a high level of work capacity across broad time and modal domains. At any stage of life, sickness reduces that work capacity, while broad and sustainable capacity requires health.
How does this connect to traditional health markers like blood pressure, triglycerides, and cholesterol? These indicators are correlates—just as VO₂ max is a correlate of fitness. You wouldn’t trade away mobility or physical capacity just to lower your blood pressure. The real goal is the opposite: you want those numbers to improve in order to preserve your mobility, independence, and freedom.
Is Glassman’s definition of health simply designed to justify its workouts? Not at all. This definition stands independently as a universal benchmark—one that can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of any fitness or wellness program, not just Glassman’s methodology. While no one yet has all the data, what we finally have is a metric that is both relevant and meaningful.
In this video from 2009, Tony Budding explores these themes and more with Coach Greg Glassman.
COMMENTS
17:33
- air runner
- lifting outdoors on the asphalt
My first round was slow because I wanted to protect the peace of my neighborhood by not dropping the bar. After round 1 I no longer cared.
17:35