A Mama and PB2

First off in case any of you didn't know PB2 is now in some stores across the country. Now I live in NC and I don't know what the hell a Hy-Vee is but apparently they now carry PB2. For those of you in the other like 46 states or outside the US you can order it off their website.

For those that don't know PB2 is a powdered peanut butter. It mixes with water and gives you a wicked amount of peanut butter for a smaller amount of calories. I have about 10 PB2 recipes and uses for this stuff. Now this isn't about lower fat, this is just about people who are in a deficit that are obsessed with peanut butter and can't eat as much of it as they want to. I am obsessed with peanut butter so this is awesome to me I buy in massive amounts.

I had sent some to a client of mine and got them on the PB2 train. I recently got a email from them discussing trying to get their mama to try it and the sheer battle that took place to get their mama to do so. They put a line in their email that I feel is pretty simple but brilliant.

"So, I lectured her on how she needs to stop resisting things and be more open minded or she would never lose weight, because ultimately she will just stick with what she knows and that is garbage foods! Then she said well when you were younger I had a hard time getting you to eat things, and I said amazing how the tables have turned."

So much common sense and beauty is in that statement. The major point is though that change takes change and if you want to change your body, you are going to have to change your lifestyle.

If you want some of that peanut butter do me a favor and become a peanut pal! When you are asked what brilliant person referred you to PB2 mention me by email...info @ avidityfitness.net

http://www.bellplantation.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=18&Itemid=54

What is that you say, a calorie isn't just a calorie...

A recent study in Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism shows some interesting information on the aspect of free radical production in the body in both normal and obese subjects.

http://jcem.endojournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/92/11/4476?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&author1=Dandona&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&sortspec=relevance&resourcetype=HWCIT

I think my favorite aspect of this study is when subjects took in high fiber and high fruit compared to high-fat, high carb fast food, they showed no oxidative stresses, period.

So this is definitive proof that not just how much you eat matters, what you eat matters as well. Now you might be saying, eh I will still lose fat right, calories are calories. Well oxidative and inflammatory stress makes the metabolism of nutrients worse, increase the putty building around your heart easier and raises cardiovasular stress, and since everything is a connect the dots system, it is safe to say that this doesn't seem to be a optimal fat loss style program to me.

Southern Comfort: Interview With Coach Jamie Hale

When I first spoke with Jamie Hale I was instantly at ease. It could have been his welcoming nature or perhaps it was that darn southern accent that made me feel right at home. Regardless I was excited to have some swapping of words on various subjects. We talked about perspective, skeptism, and the importance of solid research. That conversation left me wanting more, so what follows is just that.

Leigh Peele-Today I got hit in the face with the ridiculous guidelines that are being given by the new Physic Clinic by T-nation "no tomatoes and better be scared of the 2 carbs in a piece of sugar free gum". Why do you think it has gotten to this point Coach Hale? And what is the best way to tell someone who has been lead down this road of being obsessed over the carbs in a tomato that are trying to get back on a sane eating path?

Jamie Hale-People do not like to think for themselves. If they actually thought for themselves the majority of fitness and nutrition gurus would be out of business. Many people have been taught what to think but not how to think.

I would hope the best way to cure this problem would be to show them evidence that indicates facts. But it does not seem to be that simple. We still have to keep striving to produce fact based information and destroy the dogmatism.

Leigh Peele-Agreed. When it comes to fact based information the majority of fitness professionals don't even realize what that is. It’s just picking a cert, take a course, read a book, oh and get that CPR course done. Let's say there is a professional out there that just didn't know any better, that like most didn't really think there was anything to challenge. Where would you suggest them to start to help improve their knowledge and outlooks?

Jamie Hale-I would suggest they contact other professionals they admire in the field. This can be a double-edged sword if you begin to rely on their suggestions too much (appeal to authority) without seeing the evidence. Only after checking the statements of the authority numerous times should you begin to consider their word as fact without actually seeing the evidence (still questionable).

I would advise beginning trainers and coaches to look into the Primary Research Data and listen to sources that are able to provide evidence and logic for their explanations. With that being said, it is a myth that we can be skeptical all the time as this simply would require too much time. If trainers would learn the basics of logic and rhetoric they would save themselves much time and money.

Another issue to consider when in attempt to gain knowledge is why do you seek knowledge? If you seek knowledge to make yourself a better personal trainer or if you are interested in becoming a better science writer, the knowledge required is significantly different. The everyday approach to knowledge acquisition is quite different than the scientific approach. This is just as a quasi-experiment is different than a true experiment. One of the key aspects to being a successful personal trainer is to possess good communication and motivational skills.

Leigh Peele-Very true what you say, it’s all about the want feeding the need and going with your desires. What drives you most Coach? What about this field and your place in it get you out of that bed every morning?

Jamie Hale-At the moment I am really excited about a new cd I received from Dan Moore containing 200 full studies. Actually some of the data are reviews, minibooks etc.. I get up each morning and look at my forums (MaxCondition, Practical Scientist, Knowledge and Nonsense) and answer my e-mails. I also look through information I collected on the previous day (highlighted section). I spent the majority of my day investigating, and discussing Primary Research Data. Currently I am also spending a great deal of time looking at different types of logic. I am also working on some information that will help people in the fitness industry learn how to construct valid arguments and identify logical fallacies.

Below I have included the basic system I use for learning. Let's assume that you have already decided the data has proven valid. Discussing the sources of the information and whether they are valid or not is a different discussion. Let's stick to discussing what strategies are used to retain and understand the correct data you are investigating.

My general Learning method:

-Read the information and highlight key points.
-Look at references provided in the paper
-Look up the definitions of any words that I am unsure of their meanings (abbreviated notes on the paper concerning definitions, discussing with colleagues)
-2nd reading involves reviewing and analyzing highlighted points and definitions
-3rd reading, before the third reading I put the info away for 2-3 days and review highlights again
-At this point I have formed a mental picture (similar to concept map) and I review the concepts randomly through out the day
-If I am having problems understanding the concepts or quickly recalling what I have learned I will read again and look further into more studies regarding similar or the same subject matter.
-Once I feel like my comprehension of the material is adequate I began writing on the topic if I am really interested (I have learned a great deal through writing)

Once every few months I pick some material at random that I have collected and read the highlights and highlighted references again. If I have a hard time recalling the information presented in the paper the process begins again. Sometimes I will read the entire paper again, but most of the time I start with the strategy I mentioned involving the 2nd reading.
I think in order to fully understand and be able to apply the newly attained information to various situations it is important to have visual cues. I like concept maps written on paper as well as concept maps I form in my mind. For me Rote style of learning does not really enhance long term memory or apply to new-problem solving situations.

My biggest drive comes from the passion to further enhance my knowledge and critical thinking skills.

Leigh Peele-Talk about a map for learning! I have to say I might even start to use that approach in my research, I somewhat lack that organized manner and it can leave me jumping from analyzing joint inflammation issues to the effects of casein post workout. I sit back and go…how the hell did I get here?

Of all that you wrote there is one thing that really jumped out at me when you stated "you learned a great deal from writing". I have to agree 100% it is one of the reasons I love writing because the research I put in always leads me to new knowledge. Since you recently released the book "Knowledge and Nonsense" I can assume a lot of new finds came out of that. Can you give a run down of what the book is about?

Jamie Hale-There was a great deal of things I discovered when writing Knowledge and Nonsense. I looked into subjects that I had not really considered investigating before. It also took a while to write the introduction to the book (advise from Alan Aragon). The introduction to the book gives readers my suggestions on navigating the book. It's not everyday you purchase a Fitness book that is almost 500 pages long. The instructions in the introduction make the book relatively easy to navigate. The table of contents and index also make the book user friendly. This book provides something for everyone. To demonstrate the wide diversity of the book consider the two indexes: Biochemistry and Genetics and Vertical Jump Enhancement. After reading this book you will be armed with the proper artillery to argue with anyone about Exercise and Nutrition. Below is an abbreviated table of contents (table of contents in the book much larger).

Ch 1- Basic Nutrition
Ch 2- Popular Diets: the science (approximately 43 diets reviewed)
Ch 3- Bodybuilder Nutrition Roundtable (features 8 nutrition advisors)
Ch 4- Hormones
Ch 5- Nutrition: Fact or Fiction
Ch 6- Muscular Bioenergetic Pathways & Muscle Fiber Types
Ch 7- Kinesiology and Biomechanics
Ch 8- Training for Skeletal Muscle Growth
Ch 9- Exercise: Fact or Fiction

This book destroys much of the popular bodybuilding and fitness dogma. In the chapters that discuss Exercise and Nutrition: Fact or Fiction, 114 topics are discussed.


Leigh Peele-Not only no nonsense book but jesus a book chalk full of page after page of no nonsense. You certainly aren’t lacking volume of material.

Jamie, a lot of my readers teeter on that edge of really going after the science of things. These aren’t just the weekend warriors either; these are some fitness professionals as well. What can you tell someone on that edge of the truth and great knowledge to get him or her to dive in? How can understanding WHY you do something make you better at it in your mind when it comes to training?

Jamie Hale-It's fun to discover the truth. It's fun to be able to shoot down the Type 2 SS (supplement salesman) or the gym guru who tells everyone in the gym what to do. With a basic knowledge of the Primary Research Data this is possible. With a basic understanding of logic (science of reasoning, thinking, proof or inference) you will be able to see through the rhetoric often used by the fitness industry.

I don't think that understanding a particular exercise will necessarily make you better at it. But it will probably help with the overall training regimen. If you understand the mechanics and different modes of training you can tailor the movements (and the placement of movements in the workout) to meet your specific needs. Although I don't think most trainees are really interested in why they do things they just want someone to tell them what to do. On the other end some athletes may be too analytical and this can be detrimental. I think this was one of my biggest problems as an athlete. I was speaking with one of my old baseball coaches a few days ago and he told me I was the fastest person on the bases he had seen, but I was uncoachable. My Boxing and Olympic Weightlifting coaches told me the same thing.


Leigh Peele-It would seem Jamie that you are just too smart for your own good then. I am sure this is a phrase you will hear often in your life.

I am starting a new section that I am adding on to the end of my interviews titled "The Pro and the Case Client". I give you the case and you give me what you would do in a training aspect to help them with their problem.

Case Client #002-"Training A.D.D Guy"

Client #002 has a problem with making advances in his training because each week he reads some new technique, method, or program that he just must try. He also gets highly bored with training routines in general and is a classic case gym floater. Because of all this sketchy training he has really no true ability in strength or core function and should really no go beyond the basis of bodyweight movement. He also has a desire to do various show moves like pistols and one arm push ups. How would you guide Client #002? What would you say to him to get him on track and to keep him on a program and how much of a problem is A.D.D training? Is it a problem at all?

Jamie Hale-I would ask the client for his/her preference of movements. I would suggest the client follow a training regimen that emphasizes various motor qualities and targets the particular qualities they are most concerned with. If the client really loves variety and becomes bored easily I would suggest we stick to some core movements for a specified period, but change the accessory movements often. This allows some consistency while at the same time allowing variety to deal with the boredom factor. With most of my training programs there is a fair amount of variety but yet enough consistency that we can track specific increases in strength and total work (per movement). I don't think it is unusual to run into a client who is always looking for change. I must admit I have fallen victim to this myself lately.

Leigh Peele-Excellent coach, I think we have all fallen victim of this but making sure to track change and progress is obviously the key to actual progress. I can't thank you enough for the time you have taken and in my mind this is just a part 1. With your book being so filled with information I can assure you there will be a part 2 coming up.

---

To Purchase Knowledge and Nonsense go click to add to cart below. I assure you this is almost as primo as it gets for information you really need to know.

To find out more about Coach Hale check out his site here at http://www.maxcondition.com

Alan Aragon-The Scientist of Fitness Pt. 1

There are not many people who when they talk I feel what they say goes without question. When it comes to information and validity though it doesn’t get much better than Alan Aragon. You can bet that when he speaks, it's truthful. Funny enough he of all people will tell you not to believe anything just because and to always ask why, what, who and how come.

Leigh Peele-Alright Alan, on the off chance someone reading doesn't know who you are, give us a brief rundown, a bio to Alan Aragon.

Alan Aragon-I'm a student of science as it relates to improving the body, both functionally and aesthetically. I'm a contributing editor to Men's Health, and I also do a monthly column in their mag called Ask The Weight Loss Coach. On a day-to-day basis, I'm a private practice nutritional counselor. When I'm not in the office counseling and writing, I'm giving continuing education lectures to registered dietitians, personal trainers, and strength/conditioning coaches. I also do ongoing corporate wellness presentations for Tesco. A recent gig I picked up was becoming the exclusive nutrition consultant of the Southern California Soccer Academy. Somewhere among all that, I find slivers of time to raise my 2 boys and harass my wife.


Leigh Peele-That is quite a bio and a modest one at that because I am aware of far more that you have done and achieved. Perhaps one of my favorite achievements of yours is the publication of your book */Girth Control: The Science of Fat Loss & Muscle Gain/*. Can you give us a little run down on what this book is about and who it is for?

Alan Aragon-Girth Control... The name makes me chuckle because I've been repeatedly ribbed by friends who tell me it sounds like a manual for male sexual enhancement. Well, being not too far removed from that, the superficial goal for book is about learning how to achieve a better physique on a permanent basis. The deeper goal is to teach people the skill of taking the constantly evolving barrage of fitness information and either rejecting or applying it through the skill of scientifically critical thought. Put more simply, the book is just as much a guide on how to fish as it is a fish in and of itself. As far as intended audience goes, I've rarely heard complaints from the online fitness community that it's either too incomprehensible, or conversely, too simplistic. Fitness professionals, and research-hungry layfolk will enjoy the book. I actually didn't have a target audience in mind when I wrote the book, I just pretty much wrote about what I personally am interested in, which is nutrition, training, supplementation, and the science that pulls it all together.

Leigh Peele-I don't know Alan, depends on your point of view because I think reading Girth Control for most would help with male sexual enhancement or at very least their dating pool.

You mentioned what I feel is one of the most important aspects of fitness education or any education for that matter, the process of elimination and weeding out the good from the bad. What sets off your B.S meter?

Alan Aragon-Great physiques set of my BS meter! I make that generalization partially in jest, because of course there are exceptions. However, the overwhelming majority of folks with cover model physiques seem to give the absolute worst advice. For example, "This works for me, therefore, this is the best way, and you should do it too". Another one is the automatic recommendation to supplement the diet with stuff that's already abundant in the diet. A prime example of this is BCAA. Will it hurt? Of course not.

Will it work better than the BCAA within food? This hasn't been systematically measured, let alone proven. Are there examples of higher leucine content being less effective than lower leucine content in research? Yes. Will those supping BCAA experience benefits due to placebo? Definitely. Until research proves me wrong on this, it's saving my clients (and myself) some sushi money. Another thing that sets off my sensors is when someone classifies a food or food product as extremely bad for the body and to be avoided at all costs. The whole "clean eating" thing really bugs me. People almost make a religion out of avoiding long lists of foods, ultimately to their detriment, and that of those in their immediate surroundings. It's comical. Most people who are devoted to "clean" eating can't logically define what "clean" means within the context of fitness and/or health. Then you have the more-is-better camp who believes that if a little fish oil is good for you, enough to deep-fry a turkey is even better.

Another thing that really sets off the BS meter is the idea that you MUST take this exotic berry juice (insert whatever MLM product you want), and without it, your health and longevity will suffer. I realize that's not the explicit message given by the sales reps, but it's certainly implicit in their sales pitch. And that's bullshit.


Leigh Peele-This is why I like you Alan, you get right to it. Still there has to be a FEW secrets out there to gaining a successful body comp, even if that secret happens to be common sense. Care to give us 3 things that anyone training to improve their body composition should be doing, the absolute “Alan must haves” of any program.


Alan Aragon-

1) Keep your eyes on YOU. It's fine to get inspired by others' physiques, but you have to set your own personal standards. People tend to fixate on their weaknesses, while at the same time obsess over the strengths of others. That's a surefire way to stay eternally frustrated. It's a healthier approach to acknowledge your own strengths, and use them as benchmarks by which to bring up your weaknesses. Learn to give yourself a pat on the back for the improvements you make. Keep your eyes on YOU, don't let the achievements of others dictate your obsessions.

2) Question fitness advice given to you by others. "why" is one of the most powerful words you can put in your vocabulary. Investigating the reasoning behind the advice will often reveal that the answer is "just because", rendering the advice anywhere from helpful, to dangerous, to just a plain waste of time and resources. I encourage my clients, students, and colleagues to question everyone's advice, including mine. I firmly believe that the better you can sharpen your thinking, the better you can continue to sharpen your physique.

3) Minimize the number of variables you alter en route to the goal. This helps control the experiment, so to speak. For example, even though my focus is nutrition, I still encourage people to leave their diet alone if they're happy with it, and alter their exercise program first. Then they can see how far they can get on that change alone. For all they know, that one change could have been all that was necessary, and hallelujah, there was no need to screw with the diet. Once you reach a progress plateau, then you can re-examine your options. This example goes both ways. If someone loves their training program, keep it in place but alter the diet as minimally as possible for progress to occur. Of course, there are folks who have not a clue what they're doing (or they've been haphazard and inconsistent), and need to start from scratch by laying out a plan that covers everything. Even in that case, the idea is to minimize the number of program alterations, and keep things simple.


Alright guys I am going to let you in on something about Alan here, I got the low down on a new program Alan is releasing. I can’t tell you what just yet. I can tell you…

-No one out there is offering this
-It could help improve your knowledge and performance like you wouldn’t believe
-It’s doesn’t cost you tons of money
-You are going to find out in the 2nd part of this interview what it’s all about.

In the meantime you can find out more about Alan here

Twas the day after Christmas....

Twas the day after Christmas and all through the house,
no people were stirring, no kids, no spouse.

The stockings were down on the ground with flare,
Empty of all the chocolate that once had laid there.

The children were passed out on the couches all fed,
while visions of High Fructose Corn Syrup danced in their heads.

And mama in her kerchief and I in my cap,
were forced to settle down from a sugar coma nap.

When over in the kitchen there arose such a clatter,
I rolled my full belly over to see what's the matter.

When what to my glazed over eyes should appear,
a tray full of food and a six pack of cold beer.

Like a little old driver, too slow and a little thick,
I knew at that moment I might make myself sick.

More rapid than eagles third coursers they came,
My tummy whistled and shouted and crumbled to be tamed.

Their eyes how they twinkled, it could have been all that sherry,
Their cheeks were like roses, oh wait that was all the cherries.

The droll on their mouth was falling on my toes,
And their was this beard on their chin, that's not where the food should go.

They had a puffy face and a round belly,
That shook when they laughed like a bowl full of jelly.

They were chubby and plump, a right full ole elf,
And I laugh when I say them and then I thought of myself.

With a wink of an eye and a turn of the head,
I saw my future and was filled with dread.

They spoke not a word, but went straight to work,
Shoveling down all the food with a fork.

Then they slowly waddled from their chair and gave a little whistle,
well it was more like the sound of a falling cruise missile.

I heard them exclaim right before they stumbled out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all and to all a good fright"

-Expert of The Day After Christmas
Leigh Peele

----

This message was brought you by the foundation of a hope for a better food tossing out. We urge you to make Christmas last just one day, and to take the next day to toss out all things and make leftovers a vision of the past, except for turkey, that can stay. Thank you.

Introduction: Coach Jamie Hale

I know this blog gets a nice mixed reading group so there may be some of you that aren't aware of this man, but you will be now.

I recently have had the pleasure of on going conversation with the Coach and I can say without pause that it has been highly enjoyable and if time allowed he is very well one of those people I would love to just sit around and think with. If you take a look at his site you will figure out what I mean.

Oh did you need a reason too go there?
What about a interview...with me?
Yeah click here you!

PS-His is coming as well.
PSS-Do yourself a favor and grab his new book while you are there, it's greatness but we will talk about that more later.

Oh and one more thing, recently sent to me by the Coach.

Learning
“1) Human beings have a natural potentiality for learning.
2) Significant learning takes place when the subject matter is perceived by the student as having relevance for his own purposes.” Passion for the subject is required to comprehend the concepts.
“3) Learning which involves a change in self organization - in the perception of oneself - is threatening and tends to be resisted.” Humans generally do not like to admit they were wrong and they like daily routine. The logical Fallacy of Cherry Picking often occurs with people that don’t like to see info that challenges their propositions. This is a big problem in Compulsory education as bias and one point of view are almost always promoted.
“4) Those learning which are threatening to the self are more easily perceived and assimilated when external threats are at a minimum.
5) When threats to the self is low, experience can be perceived in differentiated fashion and learning can proceed.” Don’t be afraid to progress and change views. Be concerned with recognition of the truth not saying your right for the sake of being right. Knowledge is tentative.
“6) Much significant learning is acquired through doing.” It is important to have in-the-trenches knowledge.
“7) Learning is facilitated when the student participates responsibly in the learning process.
8) Self-initiated learning which involves the whole person of the learner - feelings as well as intellect - is the most lasting and pervasive.” Self-intitated generally indicates passion. Passion is a key quality in acquiring knowledge and higher learning in any field.
9) Independence, creativity, and self-reliance are all facilitated when self-criticism and self-evaluation are basic and evaluation by others is of secondary importance.
10) The most socially useful learning in the modern world is the learning of the process of learning, a continuing openness to experience and incorporation into oneself of the process of change.” Huge problem here as most forced schooling results in learning what to think but now how to think. Individual learning methods vary and the promotion of one method to learning is not optimal.

-Excerpt from Carl Rogers Freedom to Learn

What's that in your pocket....

I got more gifts than a Santa loading his sleigh!

-Review of The Protein Book with a sneak preview of what is inside.
-Interview with Alan Aragon (Will be announcing special exclusive secret in the 2nd part!)
-Interview with Jamie Hale (Man are you going to learn some stuff here and get a sneak look into his new release Knowledge and nonsense)
-Interview with Barbra Ling
-3 count them 3 new articles published that you get here for free
-Interview with Julie Keen
-Sneak peak to the newly updated Fat Loss Troubleshoot
-More Videos
-New case study where you will have a chance to be a client

Best thing of all, it is all free, it is all brought to you right here, you don't even have to sign up for anything.

I must be crazy or just tired of the bull, regardless you reap the benefits!

129...

1 Year ago I started a count. Clients, all I worked for and gave everything I had.

(This doesn't even count the endless emails, phone calls and private messages, study clients, or the drop out clients I don't count.)

It has been one hell of a year. I am mentioning this because I got this email today and it hit me what a year it has really been.

"Hello,

We talked once back in March about my training, I posted at the WF board. I just wanted to let you know that because of all the advice you gave me yesterday I finally achieved my goal. I lost 55 pounds all total and have never been in better shape. I just wanted to thank you for all you are doing and for the help you gave me when you didn't have to."

He or she didn't leave their name and normally I don't count you but in this case I will just have to name you 130.

Ryan
Sheila
Terry (2)
Mary
Bobbie
Cliantha
Carol
Katie (2)
Karla
Teri
Angela
Tamara
Wendy
Devon
Vicki (2)
Chrissy
Christy (2)
Christi
Julian
Julia
Mellisa (2)
Dana
Matt(4)
Adam
Anna
Felicia
David (3)
Sarah (2)
Sara (2)
Jackie
Greg
Chris
Laura (2)
Lauren (2)
Rob
Robbie
Jeff (5)
Paula
Josh
Brian
Elda
Dessie
Jennifer(2)
Joe (2)
Melinda
Ksier
Pat
Penny
Stephen
Irena
Karol
Kathy
Maria
Mike (2)
Gary
Micheal
Cindy
Gregg
Tesia
Tamika
Donna
Doreen
Paul
Ming
Darcy
Allison
Topher
Marie
Missy (2)
Kristen
Kathleen
Christopher
Tony (2)
Sam
Samantha
Mae
Kitt
Crystal
Lillian
Lily
Fae
Patrick
Justin
Jason
Ward
Big B.
Frankie
Claire
Irene
Carrie
Robin (2)
Amanda (3)
Mandy
Page
Graham
Susie
Gloria
130


You might say when do you sleep, but when you look at that list...how can you when you are that excited about what you have done?

What about the people who bought the book?
What about the people who just read and never say a word?

So when I see some "guru's" talking about who they have worked with, I want a list, not of people you talked to for five minute in a consult, if that is the case I would be here all night. No I want your success stories, people you poured your heart into.
Not people you made scared of food or cheated out of life long results with your tricks.

Maybe not all of these clients are entering any competitions, though trust me some are. All of them though got the education that will last them a lifetime. They got fat loss that is staying. I didn't trick them, I just taught them.

I am really looking forward to 08'. I say this year let's double it.

John Izzo's Moving More Muscles

I hope we see a Tony review as he is better at these sorts of things but until then I wanted to offer up some input on Izzo's newest DVD. It isn't going to take a lot of words.

It's 28 bucks, it is 75+ mins of no frill easy to follow information on creating AND executing a proper muscle balanced program. John is beyond easy to follow, you will learn some simple terms to explain complicated things.

If you are looking to improve your posture and training balance performance...buy it.

If you have clients at all buy it.

If you deem yourself in charge of designing your own training programs or plan on doing so in the future, buy it.

At 28 bucks you can't go wrong.

You can also look at a video preview here.

Good Calories, Bad Calories: Idiots Guide to Carbohydrates PT 2.

The Holes

Gary’s biggest mistake is not understanding the ability of human error in measurement of calorie consumption. All it takes is 100 extra calories a day to gain 10lbs in 1 year. That is it. Introduce me to 10 people you know that weigh and measure their food (not in measuring cups either because that is largely flawed). You can’t give me 10, even if you are largely involved in fitness and health, you can’t give me 10 who weigh and measure their food. Now Gary says “Lean people will often insist that the secret to their success is eating in moderation, but many fat people insist that they eat no more than the lean-surprising as it seems, the evidence backs this up-and yet are fat nonetheless.”

I call bull. And here is why.

The Genetically Gifted



I have talked about this before and I have gone on and on in the new edition of the Troubleshoot about it. You often hear people talk about, and even myself in the past, about the genetically gifted. Let me explain briefly who that is and why chances are if you are reading this that you are not one of them.

Who we dub “gifted” is the guy with the six-pack abs who just chugged down loads of beer after killing off a 16’ inch pizza. The girl who can eat a burger and fry combo and never gain a pound of fat and has a perky bum. They don’t kill them selves in the gym, yet they are cut and lean and have a general good bit of strength. The men have healthy testosterone levels and a statue like look and the women are bouncing with estrogen features and good beauty. They are the people you hate, they are the gifted.


The reason you hate them may not be the area you think.

They don’t have fast metabolisms, they don’t burn fat faster, this isn’t about being a mesmomorph or about having a hot mommy and daddy…well that could help actually but the point is that it isn’t about how they break down what they eat so much as understanding the fuel they need. The genetically gifted merely understand one thing by INSTINCT that you do not. They understand naturally when they are in a positive or negative energy state and they eat/feed accordingly.

That’s it.

That is what it means to be genetically gifted. You simply understand the energy needs of your body naturally without having to test out activity level, exercise, caloric timing, carb sensitivity, all that crap that the average person doesn’t need to know about. All they really need to know, all you really need to know or do is listen to your body.

Can this function of “hearing” what your body needs be disrupted by a faulty communications system. Yes, it can very much. Can fast acting refined sugars give you a false sense of alarm in this feed system and throw of your internal sensors if you are genetically predisposed to not listening well to your body? Yes. This is where Taubes gets it right, but again he is missing the bigger picture. The problem of fat gain is still excess energy, period. It does not matter what is wrong with your system, it does not matter how bad your system functions, it is still excess energy that is the blame.

Let me explain further.

Let us say that your body should by all accounts need 2000 calories a day to stay the weight you are. That is SHOULD by all accounts because of height, weight, age, etc burn 2000 calories a day. You take some online quiz and it tells you that yes, 2000 calories a day is your limit. Well what if it is really 1800 calories a day you are burning? That is a 20lb gain in 1 year if you ate at 2000 calories a day. Are you getting the picture yet Taubes? It is not as complicated as some study in the deep reaches of Africa may suggest.

Now what slows metabolic rates? This is a whole other story, this is where all the fun stuff comes in from hormone dysfunction to thyroid problems and more. IF and let me state that most don’t, but IF you have a problem then your energy expenditure and burning system is off and your energy level is very low. This could mean that you think 2000 calories is your burn level but in reality it is 800 calories, now this is a extreme, extreme case but if so then that is a gain of 125lbs in 1 year if you consume that 2000 calories a day. So if you have a metabolic dysfunction then yes you can eat the same amount as that of a lean person but still gain weight. How often does someone ACTUALLY have one of these metabolic dysfunctions? It is very rare.

The True Killer of Fat Loss

I make the big bucks not because I am some all amazing guru, not because I understand how a carbohydrate breaks down in the body, not because I understand leptin and hormone production, but because I convince people to go to their local Target and pick up a digital food scale and finally take into account and get hit in the face with how much they eat in a day. That my friends is how come I make the big bucks, that is why I have earned the title of “There is no one I can’t get to lose fat”. I hold people accountable for what it is they put in their mouth.

I want you to take a look at the video below for a rude awakening of the difference that it makes to just measure your food by digital scale.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVjWPclrWVY

So you can see that it is the high starch, full fat items and your personal denial that bring about the worse miss-measure of your caloric intake. Just that being off, if taken into account over a year, is 34lbs of finger pointing fat gain.

Why Protein is Never the Victim of a Lynch Mob

The reason protein is never the victim of a witch hunt style attack is very simple. If you are choosing lean proteins like chicken, turkey, or egg whites how much can you really mess it up? If you are off by a few grams with protein its nothing, its chump changes in calories. Same thing goes for something like broccoli or spinach. These are very low calorically dense foods, any smart health professional knows that by putting you on a high protein/high veg diet just up their chance of getting you to succeed in your fat loss journey, not because of magical thermic processes and not because carbs are the ultimate of evil. It is because it’s hard for you to mess it up! As a society we lack really basic common sense.

I have reason to believe that Taubes is smart enough to know better and it is this reason alone why I get angry at this book because no matter how you slice it (no carb pun intended) fat loss success always rests in the land of energy in and out. You may not like your in and out, your in and out may have a dysfunction, but that is how the carb finger pointing crumbles my friends.

Let us also not ignore the fact that eating low carb or keto for a long-term basis can do real damage to that hormone and information system that you need to start listening too. It is safe to say that while Taubes and many of his followers and believers want to crucify the use of carbohydrates they do not make clear that extremes on both ends are bad. This is likely to cause worse problems for those who bodies will force them back to eating carbs but now due to absence will have poor enzyme and hormone production. THUMBS UP for that one!

Hunger And Exercise

One of the funniest aspects of the book is Taubes take on exercise and his observation with the fact that exercise increases hunger. Well…um yeah your point being? Exercise is going to increase your caloric deficit, meaning it is going to start you on the track towards burning your stored fuel sources. This is without a doubt going to cause you to be hungry. What you do with that hunger is up to you. If you are in need of losing fat then you decide if you are going to feed that hunger or not. This is will power, simple as that. Perhaps you are ungifted into having a lot of it or you are just apathetic and really don’t want to change, that isn’t my concern and again not relevant to the science of fat loss.



You don’t eat, you get hungry. You exercise, you get hungry. You don’t hydrate yourself enough and it send signals of thirst that are confused for hunger signals. See most of the time you are reading thirsty as hungry. Again you just aren’t gifted enough to know how to read your body. At a point you will (if the body is functioning correctly) start to send out peptide signals that silence the hunger pangs. It is much like those who try to quit smoking, you have to hold out on the 10-15 min stabs of cravings and then you will be fine. Again this is your choice, your fate, it is in your hands. Eating oatmeal or a rice krispy treat isn’t going to do much to change this either way.

The Final Conclusion: Good Taubes, Bad Taubes

• If you are looking for a resource to try and help prove that you are the 1%, then this book is for you!
• If you are looking for a resource to help back up why the government has it all wrong and not shockingly is trying to manipulate you, the general public, then this book is for you!
• If you are looking to learn endless study story after study story about why the “nutritional pyramid” is on crack, then this book is for you!
• If you are looking for another source to blame something other than yourself for why you aren’t losing fat, then this book is for you!
• Finally, if you are looking to have a ride on the hate the carb train even though time and again study after study has shown that diet on high carbs can cause you to lose weight if in a caloric deficit but still carbs are evil then you have found your literal best friend!

Sorry folks, the simple truth is and will always be this…

Excess calories cause fat gain.

I may even hit at a Part 3, 4 and even more. For now this is as simple as it gets and as complicated as it should get.

Good Calories, Bad Calories: Idiots Guide to Carbohydrates

*This article pissed so many people off that I may have burned some publishing bridges, so I am putting it here because hey, my blog and I can do what I want with it*

I remember a not to long ago I caught the movie remake of Born Yesterday with Melanie Griffin and Don Johnson on TV. If not aware the movie is a tale of a "dumb" girl trying to smarten herself up so that she can stand along side her shady loads of wealth businessman (John Goodman) of a boyfriend. Goodman has brought them to Washington with dreams of putting in his pocket even more wealth and hopefully not in just currency but in dirty politicians. This is to be fiction correct….

Don Johnson job is to tutor Griffin and one of her first assignments is to read Alexis DeTocqueville's "DEMOCRACY IN AMERICA". The purpose of Griffin reading the book is it is expressed that if you can get through the book and understand it then you have to be, by some men's judgment, an intelligent person.



What amuses me most about the movie is when she starts to read the book she chooses to discuss the book with a local Washington radio personality, if memory serves. Radio or not this women is a who's who, a highly vocal critique, a mind to be reckoned with by the eyes of most politicians on capital hill. Griffin expresses her reading of Tocque and asks her “what her favorite part was”? The woman tosses aside the question in this manner of 'what kind of simpleton are you?’ ‘To think it is the kind of book to have a favorite part’. Griffin shoots back with her favorite part and the women is left speechless and states that and I am paraphrasing here, that "no one has actually read Democracy In America, they just say they have".

So the end point here of course is the "dumb" girl accomplishes a literary feat of reading and understanding an American classic that those who should understand it don't. It also presents the fact that intelligence is really pretty relevant and in the eyes of the judger.

I bring this all up, my long intro about a flop of a mid 90's movie, because I feel that Good Calories, Bad Calories is one such book. At 460 pages plus100 pages of notes and a bibliography, this isn't a hard read persea but a long read. It is full of thought provoking material and opinions that stretch outside the norm. Am I saying it is a new American classic? Absolute not, not even close, not one bit but in a way yes, yes it is.

It shouldn't be a classic because it is a masterpiece of truth. It shouldn’t be a classic because it breaks some new ground and hits upon this world never before traveled. It shouldn't be a classic because it's the clever, exciting, or gripping!

It should be considered an American classic because just like most of Americans we can say it so wrong and do so much bad in such a short format. It is a classic example of just another guy with a one sided point of view, a cherry picker. Our society would not be what it is if not for the classic cherry picker.



Okay so I ruffled your feathers. Before I rip apart Taubes for what he did wrong, and there is a lot to pick apart, please allow me to point out what he did right. At the same time this is precisely why this book angers me so much because Taubes, by his own account, if he would have just read his own book, should have known better.

If the book was called “Good Studies, Bad Studies”, and Taube would have stuck to giving it to the government and companies for their complete unethical method of changing our society based on some very sketchy rulings and findings then I would be standing beside Taubes patting him on the back for a work well done. Not that it is anything new anyway, but certainly a great collection of material that shows how full of holes or research and guidelines in this country are.

This book was incredibly well written and easy to follow, especially considering the topics of information. If any of you have ever actually tried to read studies you know that they are a headache even for the smartest of individuals. Studies really are written like stereo instruction or much like I imagine the “Handbook for the Recently Deceased”. It is really a different language, a geek one. The average person, with a lot of effort, could understand but will unlikely take the time to do so.



To compile this information into a book for the average Joe to understand, to explain to them these technical things in this manner, he really did a top-notch job. He also didn't skimp on the references or notes. This man did not just draw up some opinions here, he dug and read and dug and read some more. There are 100 pages alone of just notes and references, which is why I really want to shake him and just say "Gary, you have been staring at this big boat for hours but still can’t tell me the color of it". Perhaps there will be a 2nd edition and those mistakes will be rectified as there is little to no reference on exercise physiology, and here in lies one of the big problems, the other of course is the witch hunt on carbohydrates. It was so close to being a masterpiece, but just in classic American form, he messes it all up. Again, an American classic.

(End Part 1)

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Welcome to the south Dan...lord help you.