Eat Stop Eat in Scientific American

Here an Interesting take on the research behind Intermittent fasting and longevity from Scientific American's Podcast "60-Second Science".

You can listen to the podcast here:

http://www.sciam.com/podcast/episode.cfm?id=fasting-may-equal-calorie-restricte-08-12-26

BP

PS- I just put the finishing touches on my presentations for my 1 day seminar coming up on January 17th. All I can say is that I've even surprised myself with how many nutrition myths I manage to tackle in this presentation!

It's going to be an amazing day, and there are still a couple seats left so make sure you sign up soon ==>

http://www.ttmembers.com/products/item14.cfm

First EVER Eat Stop Eat / Turbulence Training seminar

I have big, big news that will really help kick of 2009 with a BANG.

I have agreed to do a 1 day seminar with Craig Ballantyne where we are going to give away ALL of the secrets you need to know to dramatically change the way you look in 2009 -

Why team up with Craig? Well I beleive exercise is a vital component to weight loss, and I think Craig is the best in the Biz at simple and effective weight loss programs.

Craig is going to cover weight training strategies so you can get the most out of your workouts in the least amount of time, and I'm going to help you discover how to burn bodyfat and get in shape without falling for misleading weight loss scams or nutrition marketing hype.

This is the part that is really exciting for me - Other than national television, this will be the first time I will be sharing this type of information LIVE in a non-academic setting!

I'm gong to hit the hard topics -

• why metabolism has become nothing more than a marketing term,
  
• why green tea will simply NOT help you lose weight,
  
• and the surprising truth about low insulin levels and burning body fat.

It is going to be awesome - it's going to be a great time, and really open forum - if you have questions you need to ask me, I will be ready and willing to answer everything.

But hurry! only the first 20 folks get the EARLY BIRD admission price of only $99. And it's Canadian Dollars too, so that is like $14 USD! (Just kidding...but it is a little cheaper...)

***UPDATE: There are only 2 spots left at the EARLY BIRD RATE!!!***

Date: Saturday, January 17th

Time: 9-3

Where: Mississauga, a suburb just west of Toronto.

Topics: Please check the website for more details!

BONUSES: Don't miss the $250 worth of free gifts we are giving away to ALL seminar attendees.

It's going to be a blast, and there's going to be even MORE surprise goodies given away at the event.

Reserve your spot here:

=> http://www.ttmembers.com/products/item14.cfm

We can't wait to meet you and help you burn fat in 2009,

PS - You have our Canadian Strength Guarantee.

If at the seminar's lunch break, you feel the seminar wasn't worth your time and energy, you can just let us know, return your free bonus gifts, and we'll return your registration. We'll even give you an extra $50 for your time and travel costs.

That's how much we know you are going to love the 1st-ever TT Seminar!

=> Click here to reserve your spot

Weight Loss Exercises

I don't believe in Starvation Mode (If you've read my book you know why).

However, I do believe in diminishing returns when it comes to weight loss exercises like running or walking.

The amount of calories running or walking causes you to burn (above and beyond your normal resting metabolic rate) is dictated by how much you weigh and how far you move.

If you lose weight then these exercises burn less calories. And, it doesn't matter if this weight is fat OR muscle.

The bottom line - The more weight you lose the less effective these exercises become at burning calories.

You can watch my video for more details:

BP

Protein, Carbs and Insulin

I always find it confusing when I read things like:

"Protein slows insulin levels, which you want to keep in balance to avoid weight gain."

I find it confusing for two reasons.

1) I'm really not sure how you can 'slow' a level

2) I'm really not sure how they define 'balance'.

Honestly I really dislike vague terms..especially when applied to science.

What I do know is that from the research conducted on sports supplements we know for sure that a protein/carb meal can have just as big an effect on insulin as a carb only meal. And, that as long as you are eating your insulin levels are going to go up and down...

Watch the Video for more details:

BP

Bad News about Blog Comments

I've decided that I am going to have to moderate the comments on my blog.

There is just too much spam, and its ruining it for everyone.

I will continue to allow different opinions, arguments, snide comments...really anything goes, as long as it is not robot-generated spam.

It sucks that I have to do this, but its the best option to keep this blog an informal but beneficial area to share and gather knowledge.

BP

More Best Evers for You

Here are three more 'Best Evers' that I want to share. When it comes to the food and hospitality industry, I am very particular about what I like and don't like, and these three places exceeded my expectations every time I visited them:

Best Hotel Ever:

I was involved in a lot of exercise physiology & nutrition research that was being conducted at the University of Nottingham. Before I left the supplement industry we were deep into looking into cellular protein signaling and muscular growth…super interesting stuff.

Whenever I was in Nottingham I made a point to always stay at Hart’s Hotel.

No real gym, barely a lounge…and the rooms were of a mediocre size at best.

BUT, the garden rooms opened up to their garden terrace, essentially making your room “3 walled” – the perfect way to just relax and just chill after a long day of working and being “on”.

If you have ever traveled for work, then you know how tiring it can be to always be “on”.

You are “on” during meetings, “on” during the dinner after the meetings and you are even “on” during drinks, after the dinner, after the meetings.

If you can’t find a way to relax on business travel you will burn out quickly.

I’ve stayed in much fancier hotels, but Hart’s is my Best Ever hotel, simply based on atmosphere.

If you ever visit Nottingham I suggest Hart’s.

http://www.hartsnottingham.co.uk/

Best Restaurant Ever:

The three Chimneys, Isle of Skye, Scotland.

If I wasn’t in Nottingham for research I was in Glasgow, and I grew so fond of Scotland during my business trips there, my wife and I chose Scotland as our honeymooned destination.

During our honeymoon B&B and Distillery tour across Scotland, one of my favorite dinners was at the Three Chimneys.

If you ever get a chance to visit Scotland (go during the summer months) I highly recommend the Three Chimneys Restaurant.

http://www.threechimneys.co.uk/

(In North America, my favorite still has to be Dragon Fly Sushi and Saki Company. A Sushi Fusion restaurant in Gainesville, Florida.)

Best Tea Ever:

Hands down, runaway favorite has to be “Tea at the White House” in Waterdown Ontario…huge selection of tea, great people, great atmosphere…just a class act. Worth the visit, but you’d be best to make a reservation.

My advice would be to order the high Tea and split it between two people…with a pot of sticky toffee tea…( mmmmmmm..sticky toffee tea)

http://www.teaatthewhitehouse.com/

Looking GREAT at 44! (Eat Stop Eat in Austria)

Here's a great interview with Jennifer from Austria, a long time friend of Eat Stop Eat.

Jennifer is living proof that you can look amazing in your 40's with the right attitude, the right workout routine and a little help from Eat Stop Eat.

Jennifer's Interview

BP

My Best Ever Workout Advice

In keeping with my December theme of sharing my list of "Best Evers" with you, I'd like to share some 'Best Evers' that have really helped me with my workouts.

The first is a technique, the second is advice.

The technique I want to share with you is the hook grip.

If you are a big-time dead lifter then you most likely use an overhand/underhand grip when the weights start to get heavy.

I was the exact same way.

Any time I attempted a dead lift above 400 pounds, I moved to an over-under grip. I did my best to make sure I evened this out each set (left hand over, right hand under, followed by right hand over, left hand under).

After years of dead lifting using this grip I had developed chronic lower back pain, and a NOTICEABLY more developed right erector muscle and right trapezius muscle.

(Noticeable to the point that every time I took my shirt off, someone would feel the need to point it out that the right side of my back was bigger than the left side of my back...).

Long story short - My back is now fine (and symmetrical), but it took some rehab work and about 5 years off from dead lifting.

So my best ever for you is this - If you love dead lifting, then try the hook Grip.

It is an awkward but effective way to handle big weights without having to resort to the dreaded over-under grip.

Basically, you grip the bar with a standard overhand grip, but with a hook grip your thumb goes UNDER your first two fingers....imagine making a fist with your thumb tucked in.

Essentially, your first two fingers "hook" your thumb into place so the bar doesn't role out of your grip.

It's a really tricky technique, but if you love dead lifting and are pulling big weights then the hook grip may be useful to you.

I found great benefits from this grip, (including finally being able to dead lift again), so hopefully you may also find some benefit.

OK...on to my best ever workout advice...

My best ever workout advice is to understand WHY you are working out. You need to define your purpose.

My workouts improved IMMENSELY when I finally figured out why I workout.

I lift weights to try to build muscle.

I do NOT go to the gym to burn fat.

This realization has saved me from hours of wasted time in the gym. My workouts build muscle and the WAY I EAT burns fat. (or, more correctly the way I DON'T eat burns body fat)

By keeping this focus, I am able to constantly remind myself WHY I am in the gym, and WHY I eat the way I do.

I've admitted to myself the awful truth that you can't correct a bad diet with an hour of 'cardio' a couple times a week.

(Treadmills are a great way to stay in your comfort zone, but a BAD way to lose body fat)

I'm not sure why I ever thought an extra 20 minutes of walking on a treadmill after my workout would be anything other than a complete waste of 20 minutes, but by admitting this and keeping my focus in the gym, it saved me a lot of time and frustration.

Plus, it kept me honest with my diet...once you admit that cardio can't fix a bad diet, you will get hit with a HUGE incentive to watch how you eat and make sure you are doing the things you need to do to lose weight and keep it off.

No more using exercise as a weight loss crutch.

(This is EXACTLY why Eat Stop Eat is a combination of flexible intermittent fasting AND resistance training)

So my best advice workout is to not get side tracked, and do your best not to fall for the "comfort zone" mentality and believing that all is standing between you and your ideal body is an hour
on the elliptical a couple times a week.

Remember your purpose - workout for muscle, eat for weight loss.

BP

Weight Loss Goals

As we approach Jan 1 2009 (Far, far too quickly in my mind), I think its best we took a second to consider our weight loss resolutions.

I'm all for goals. I think they're great, and an INTEGRAL part of success, but it is important that we KEEP IT REAL.

Take the picture below. Same pic, just pre- and post- photoshop work. (I think the original photo is from www.celebritysmackblog.com).

This kind of work is standard in almost all magazines, and movies (ESPECIALLY the new trend of etching in guys abs in action movies...).

So when you are setting your goals, hopes and dreams for 2009 remember, if you want to look like Jessica Alba in 2009, then focus your attention to the gorgeous woman on the left, not the barbi-doll on the right.

BP
PS- if this photo turns out to be a fake, the message still stands. Stay realistic in 2009.

My best advice for weight loss success

December is a month for giving and sharing, and this entire month I am going to share with you my personal list of "BESTS"...

I only know of 3 people who I consider to be truly successful in business.

None of them became successful by taking shortcuts. None of them were the "right place, right time" stroke of luck success story either.

In fact, they all became successful the EXACT same way.

They used the EXACT same method that worked for me in my life, and its the EXACT same method that will work for you no matter what you goal is.

All 3 people had to move outside of their comfort zone in order to become successful.

I had the same thing happen to me...twice.

The first time was when I was in my third year at university. Back then my goal was to bench 300 pounds. Both my workout partner and I were mid-200 benchers and 300 seemed like 'the ultimate bench press goal'.

By the end of my 3rd year I was benching 280 pounds. It wasn't 3oo, but I thought it was pretty darn good. After all, in my group of friends, I was one of the top benchers.

That summer I decided to stay at University and take some extra courses.

I can remember the first day I went to the gym during the summer semester - It was a COMPLETELY difference crowd.

My usual crew was not there, instead the gym was almost empty, except for 4 or 5 guys who were A LOT bigger and A LOT stronger than me.

Adam, Steve, John and Big Jer were all 50 or 60 pounds heavier than me, and they were ALL high 300 pound benchers.

At this point I had 2 options:

Stay in my comfort zone, workout by myself and try to hit 300 pounds on the bench.

Move out of my comfort zone, Start training with the big boys, and accept the fact that 300 pounds was no longer an acceptable goal.

I picked the later. It was uncomfortable. Actually, that's not true. It was darn right SCARY.

But I'm glad I did it.

By moving outside of my comfort zone 300 pounds was no longer a mental block, and by the end of August I was bench pressing 355 pounds for sets of 2.

55 pounds more than what I previously thought was the 'perfect' Bench Press.

This was the first time I reaped the rewards of moving out of my comfort zone.

The second time was when I walked away from my career in the supplement industry.

I had a great job, a great title, a massive office, financial stability, good co-workers, a great staff, even the commute wasn't too bad.

But I knew it wasn't what I was meant to do.

I moved out of my comfort zone the day I resigned. And while this isn't a rags to riches story, I am now doing something I love. And this wouldn't have been possible if I didn't move outside of my comfort zone.

Most likely it is YOUR comfort zone that is keeping you from reaching your goals. ESPECIALLY if you goal is weight loss.

Doing an extra 20 minutes on the elliptical two or three times a week isn't going to help you become noticeable leaner - What it IS going to help you stay in your comfort zone.

Switching from a white bagel to a whole wheat bagel for breakfast isn't gong to help you lose weight- all it will do is keep you in your comfort zone.

The number one reason why most people have not tried Eat Stop Eat is because it is too far outside of their comfort zone. They miss out on hitting their weight loss goals simply because they are afraid to try something different.

Make a commitment to move outside of your comfort zone. Do the things you need to do to become successful.

Here is THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE I have ever been given:

If you want to be successful you have to do the things that unsuccessful people aren't willing to do.

Your comfort zone is what is keeping you from attaining the success you want. Move out of your comfort zone and you will FORCE change and you will see results.

Unsuccessful people do the same ineffective things over and over because they are the things they are comfortable doing. To be successful you have to break this habit.

BP

Weight Loss and Happiness

"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results"

This quote is used so often in the weight loss industry it has almost become cliche (plus I find it very confusing), so here is one that I find much more valuable.

"We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them."

This quote is from Albert Einstein, and I think it can be used to describe our current obesity crisis very nicely.

To put it bluntly, if we try to use the nutrition and diet recommendations that caused our obesity problems as a way to FIX our obesity problems, we're doomed for failure.

If you are happy with your current routine and you are happy with the way it makes you look and feel then you do not need to change your program. IT IS WORKING.

However, if you find your current weight loss routine, boring, monotonous, hard, restricting, or ineffective then stop spinning your wheels and find a new routine, because the one you are following right now is NOT WORKING.

If you want a change of pace, and a routine and way of life that is unlike any other weight loss routine then maybe it's time you gave Eat Stop Eat a try.

BP

The different forms of exercise

I received this great question over the weekend that I thought you might find it interesting -

My question for you is, even though weight training is a primo form of resistance training, do you exclusively recommend the use of weight training with Eat Stop Eat?

This was my answer -

With Eat Stop Eat ANY FORM of resistance training will do. I realize that when most people hear 'resistance training' they automatically think 'weight training' however, resistance can mean so much more than simply weights.

Really, it should be called something more vague, like muscle-stress training, since what we are really trying to accomplish is adding an acute stress to the muscle. Isometrics, weight training, contact sports (think a football line or a wrestling match), and body weight exercises (gymnastics) ALL accomplish this.

Even with weight training there is still a lot of variety with what you can do and use to stress your muscles. You can use traditional tools like dumbbells and barbells or more obscure implements like lengths of chain and even rubber bands - I just read about an entire
workout program designed around the convenience of rubber bandexercises (Resistance Band Workout).

The most important aspect of any resistance training program is to make sure that you are constantly improving by putting the muscle under a little more stress each time you train it. The method or tools that you decide to use to create this stress are not nearly as important as the stress itself and making sure it increases in some way from exercise session to exercise session.

And, yes -You can weight train while you are fasting

BP

PS- Here is a video of one of my favorite Chest exercises - The Corkscrew Incline Press

Weight Loss Irony

When I saw this, I couldn't help but get out my video camera and shoot a quick video for you.

I thought of just telling you about it, but it sounds too unbelievable to be true.

I thought about just taking pictures,but I'm sure someone would claim it was photoshopped.

So I went with a video.

If you've ever wondered why some people find it so hard to stick with a diet, or why people who go to a gym or weight loss center still have problems losing weight, look no further then the awesome weight loss irony of marketing and product placement.

See the video below...

If you see any examples of weight loss irony in your neighborhood, shoot a video or take a photo of it...who knows, maybe we can start a brand new blog on the topic.

BP