Most Men Miss This Blood Marker Until It’s Too Late
I didn’t feel sick.
No obvious symptoms. No major red flags.
But at 38, during a deep dive with a functional medicine doctor, something unexpected showed up in my blood work: my iron levels were creeping up.
At first, I didn’t think much of it. I ate a high-protein, animal-based diet. I trained hard.
I recovered well (or so I thought).
But my Iron Studies panel told a different story.
Beyond Toughness: How Midlife Men Can Lead with Courage, Integrity, and Purpose
At Midlife Mavericks, we believe true masculinity goes beyond outdated notions of toughness or stoicism. It is defined by the courage to live authentically, the integrity to stand by your principles, and the purpose to lead and serve those who matter most. For men in midlife, this means reclaiming your vitality while breaking free from the limiting stereotypes of what it means to “be a man.”
Here’s what that looks like:
My 2025 Functional Blood Work: Blood Sugar, Stress & Performance – Part 6
In the first five parts of this series, I unpacked a lot.
From immune system stress and gut health to liver, kidney, and hormone function. This post might not sound as exciting as “testosterone” or “gallbladder,” but it’s just as important, maybe even more.
Why?
Because blood sugar regulation isn’t just about diabetes or fat loss. It’s about performance, recovery, energy, and brain clarity, especially in midlife.
And when I reviewed my latest blood markers, a few things jumped out that most GPs would skim over... but from a functional lens, they’re full of clues.
From Fog to Focus: My Journey into Values
For the first 38 years of my life, I didn’t really know what my values were. Not because I didn’t have any, just because I’d never stopped long enough to question them.
I was doing what most blokes do.
Playing footy with mates.
Drinking and partying on weekends.
Went to uni, got the degree, landed the job, started climbing the corporate ladder.
And to be honest, it wasn’t bad.
I wasn’t unhappy.
I wasn’t stuck.
I was just... living. On autopilot. Doing what I thought I should do.
My 2025 Functional Blood Work: High-Performer’s Guide to Sex Hormones & Adrenals – Part 5
This week, I’m diving into sex hormones and adrenal function. Interestingly, this category didn’t come back with a scary dysfunction score, it was flagged at around 45% probability. But there were still patterns worth paying attention to. Patterns that a conventional doctor might completely ignore, but functional medicine digs deeper to connect the dots.
The Midlife Upgrade: How HCL & Betaine Can Transform Your Energy, Gut, and Brain
If you’re a busy man in your 40s, 50s, or beyond, you know the value of simple changes that deliver big results. Maybe you’re noticing a dip in energy, more brain fog, or your digestion just isn’t what it used to be. The good news? There’s a surprisingly straightforward way to support your gut, boost your immunity, and help you feel sharper and more energetic: HCL and Betaine supplementation.
What If My Liver’s the Reason I’m Waking at 3am?
For a few months now, I’ve been waking in the early hours of the morning, not consistently, but a 1-3 times a week.
Sometimes it’s 2:30am. Other times it’s 4am. But the pattern is familiar.
I wake up wired, alert, almost like my body thinks it’s time to wake up and attack the day. But my mind is foggy, and I'm wired. I can’t seem to fall back asleep.
I’ve done the usual checklist:
Stress? Yes, a bit. Running a business and raising a toddler will do that.
Screen time? I’m pretty dialed there.
Stimulants? Not late in the day.
Sleep hygiene? Covered.
What the liver connection?
Fatherhood Didn’t Arrive When I Felt “Ready”
I was never sure if I wanted kids. Not when I was climbing the corporate ladder. Not when I was pouring everything into building my gym in London. Not even when my friends started settling down.
Back then, I couldn’t imagine having the time or energy that kids deserved. I barely had space for a proper relationship. My focus was narrow: work, training, building something that made me proud.
Kids? They weren’t part of the plan.
My 2025 Functional Blood Work: A High-Performer’s Guide to Liver and Gallbladder Heal - Part 4
In Part 1, I unpacked the signs of an overactive immune system. In Part 2, I explored my kidney markers and why “dysfunction” might be misleading. In Part 3, I looked at my GI function (gut health) and my sub-optimal total protein.
This week, we’re reviewing my liver and gallbladder results. According to my Functional Blood Analysis Report, my liver function has a 56% probability of dysfunction and my gallbladder has a 50% probability of dysfunction.
Not catastrophic. But not optimal either. And when you're training hard, running a business, parenting, and pushing for growth, suboptimal can catch up to you.
When Fitness Isn’t Enough: My Wake-Up Call and the Health Lesson Every Man Needs
In 2018, I walked away from the gym I had poured my heart and soul into. I left London. Sold my shares. Moved to Byron Bay (East Coast Australia), chasing sun, surf, and space to breathe.
From the outside, it looked like a bold life pivot. A clean break. A midlife upgrade.
But the truth?
I was exhausted. Burnt out. Strung out. And completely disconnected from my own health.