The Summit

Lessons from a life well-climbed

Hello, I’m Doc Mac — an optimizer of life, and a traveler who’s learned that the mountain never truly ends. At seventy, I still climb, not to conquer, but to see more clearly. I’ve discovered that youth isn’t something you lose; it’s something you stop practicing. So if you’re fifty and searching for what’s next, come sit for a bit. The view’s different up here — and I’ve got stories to tell.

I’ve spent the past forty-five years helping people optimize their health and vitality. Over that time, I’ve guided thousands toward better energy, balance, and confidence. A decade ago, after my wife and I successfully ran seven medical clinics specializing in hormone and weight optimization, I traded brick-and-mortar practice for a life of freedom and purpose.

Today, I travel the world, coaching men and women virtually to look and feel their absolute best as they step into this powerful new phase of life.

If you want to look—and feel—phenomenal in your seventies, keep reading.

Visualizing Success & Rewiring the Brain

"The Mental Gym You’re Not Using Enough"

If you’ve ever heard someone say, “See it before you achieve it,” they weren’t just being poetic. They were quoting neuroscience. Visualization and mental rehearsal of success aren’t wishful thinking. It’s cognitive strength training. And when practiced correctly, it literally rewires your brain for performance, consistency, and confidence.

Let’s dive into how and why this mental muscle deserves just as much attention as your Meso-Meal plan.

Your Brain Doesn’t Know the Difference

Here’s the fascinating part: when you visualize yourself acting, whether it’s taking a leisurely walk, acing a presentation, or sticking to a protein-only day, your brain activates the same neural pathways as if you were physically doing it.

Functional MRI studies show that mental rehearsal strengthens the same circuits that fire during the real behavior. It’s your brain’s way of saying, “Got it, boss! I’ll be ready when you’re ready.”

That means every vivid image of you showing up with discipline, energy, and focus lays down fresh neural tracks. The more you visualize success, the easier it becomes for your body to follow through. You’re training your subconscious to expect and then create the outcome you want.

How Visualization Rewires You for Consistency

Your brain is a creature of habit. It loves patterns, even the unhelpful ones. When you repeatedly imagine yourself failing (“I’ll probably skip my cortisol-lowering walk again” or “I’ve got to snack to survive”), your brain logs that as the expected behavior. It becomes the mental equivalent of muscle memory, sabotaging achievement.

Visualization flips the script.

Recently, they closed the road I used to drive to Costco. They are building an overpass, and it will be closed for months. For the past month, I have had to reroute my Costco journey. The road I usually turned to get there, I now drive past, like I never went that way. My new route has become the standard way: smooth, familiar, automatic.

The Science of Feeling It

Visualization isn’t daydreaming. It’s an embodied experience. To make it effective, you need to feel the moment, not just see it.

When you imagine yourself waking up early, feeling strong, and moving through your day with purpose, engage all your senses:

• What do you hear — joy?
• How does your body feel — light?
• What do you see — slenderness?
• What do you smell? — success?
• What do you taste? — gratitude?

The emotion it elicits tells your brain, “This is real.” That’s when the rewiring happens.

Three Simple Visualization Practices to Start Using Today

1. Morning Mental Rehearsal (5 minutes) Before your feet hit the floor, close your eyes and picture your day unfolding with intention. See yourself choosing nourishing foods, staying on track, and speaking kindly to yourself. You’re not predicting the future — you’re programming it.
2. Anchor to a Trigger: Choose a cue (like weighing and texting me, pouring your morning coffee, or brushing your teeth) and use that moment to quickly visualize one core goal. Maybe it’s showing up for your walk, drinking 80 ounces of water, or staying patient under stress. The cue becomes a bridge between your thoughts and your actions.
3. Evening Replay: As you wind down, visualize the wins of the day, especially the small ones. Replay the moments and honor them. Visualization trains your brain to notice success and seek it again tomorrow.

Each of these practices strengthens your mental “success muscle.” And just like physical training, consistency beats intensity. Five minutes a day is better than an hour once a week.

Visualization + Physiology = Power

When you combine mental imagery with physical action, you double your progress. Athletes have been doing this for decades, not because it’s mystical, but because it’s measurable.

Before a walk, visualize your body moving with control and grace. Before a meal, visualize yourself choosing meso foods that fuel your long-term goals. Before sleep, visualize your hormones harmonizing.

You’re teaching your nervous system what “balanced and thriving” feels like, and that feeling drives real biological change.

It’s not “woo-woo.” It’s neuroplasticity.

“Neuroplasticity refers to the brain's ability to change and adapt throughout life. It involves the formation of new neural connections, the strengthening of existing ones, and the reorganization of brain networks in response to experiences, learning, and environmental stimuli. In simpler terms, it's like the brain's "wiring" system that allows it to adjust and improve over time.”

–Google

A Final Thought: You’re the Architect

Visualization gives you the power to design the future before it arrives. Every image you create is a blueprint for your brain to follow. If you can see it, your neurons can build it.

You’ve already done the hard part, committing to your health, hormones, and vitality. Now, add this final piece: the mental rehearsal that transforms intention into instinct.

Can you see yourself twirling in front of the tri-mirrors at Nordstrom’s, wearing the slender sweater you will purchase for Thanksgiving? Twirl! How does that feel? Concentrate on the motion that emotes during your visualization. That emotion will get you there faster.

A Note from Me

If you’ve felt the difference that coaching and guided strategy can make, imagine how powerful it would be to share that with someone you care about.

If you have a friend, spouse, or family member who’s ready to take control of their health and energy, send them to HOPE with a three-way text. There’s no high-pressure pitch, just a conversation about their goals and a free week to see if we’re the right fit. And remember, you will receive a free month of maintenance as a token of my appreciation.

You’re living proof that change is possible. Help someone else see it, too.

A client referred Alisa and look what happened.

This Week's Gourmet Meso Meal

Click the link below to download this week's gourmet Meso Meal

​Hay-Smoked Chicken ​

​with Roasted Broccoli Rabe & Cauliflower Purée​

This Week's US-IE

This Us-ie is of Vicky and me standing in front of the Guggenheim’s ‘Puppy,’ in Bilbao Spain feeling small, inspired, and wildly grateful. Bilbao was once known for shipbuilding and steel, Bilbao reinvented itself into a hub of culture, cuisine, and creativity. Nestled between green mountains and the Nervión River, the city blends Basque tradition with modern innovation — think pintxos bars, riverside walks, and avant-garde art installations. And right outside the Guggenheim Museum, we met “Puppy”, a towering 40-foot floral sculpture by Jeff Koons, covered in living flowers that change with the seasons — a joyful symbol of rebirth and color. It reminds us that the world’s most beautiful art isn’t just in museums — it’s in the moments we share, the journeys we take, and the joy of seeing life through fresh eyes. All is possible when you optimize your hormones, weight, health, and life, with HOPE.

🇪🇸 The Macs

Hormone and Weight Optimization Author and Coaches

​HOPE isn’t just a feeling. It’s a protocol

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Disclaimer:

The information provided in this newsletter is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider before starting any new supplement, including zinc, especially if you have a medical condition, are pregnant, or are taking medications. Individual needs may vary; this content does not replace the advice of a professional medical expert.

© 2025 Doc Mac Coaching. All rights reserved.​