Brain Food - 7/23/2010

To Eat Like a Hippy or Not?

I found this great article on the swirling debate regarding the cost/benefit of eating organic produce on T-Nation. Very interesting stuff...bonus points to the author for including shopping recommendations based on the relative contamination levels of different produce.

http://www.tmuscle.com/free_online_article_issue/issue_636?s=indexTitle#to-eat-organic-or-not

Interval Training Sucks for Fat Loss?

High Intensity Interval Training (or HITT) has become the latest fat burning trend in the fitness industry. Before reading the article,  I was 100% convinced of its efficacy having used it on myself and clients very successfully in the past. However, the author of this article takes the most admirable job in our industry - the constructive critic. In a thought provoking analysis, he shreds all of the studies that are often used to validate HITT as a fat burning method. After reading the article, I am still 100% convinced that HITT is a valid fat burner (practical experience always trumps 2nd level analysis IMO) but it did provoke some thought on how to better use and apply it. Clarification of the W's (who, what, where, when, why) is always useful in this industry, making this article a must read for that reason alone. If you aren't thinking critically, you aren't thinking!

http://www.tmuscle.com/free_online_article_issue/issue_636?s=indexTitle#interval-training-doesn-t-work

Who Doesn't Love Charles Poliquin? YOU SHOULD!

Here are several articles (to be read in sequence) in which CP talks about why the average American woman  typically struggles to lose weight due to their dietary approach. Tons of great info but definitely not at all politically correct. I love CP for this exact reason - he tells it like it is and isn't afraid to riff on people who do dumb stuff. Regardless of your reaction to the tone of the articles, I guarantee that it will get you thinking! Bonus - you can probably read all of them in 20 minutes or less!

http://www.charlespoliquin.com/Blog/tabid/130/EntryId/50/Why-Women-Cant-Lose-Weight-Part-1-Women-and-Breakfast-Cereals.aspx

http://www.charlespoliquin.com/ArticlesMultimedia/Articles/Article.aspx?ID=270

http://www.charlespoliquin.com/Blog/tabid/130/EntryId/52/Why-Women-Cant-Lose-Weight-Part-2-Women-Breakfast-and-Soy.aspx

http://www.charlespoliquin.com/ArticlesMultimedia/Articles/Article.aspx?ID=35

http://www.charlespoliquin.com/Blog/tabid/130/EntryId/53/Why-Women-Cant-Lose-Weight-Part-3-Women-and-Why-Eating-Fat-Does-Not-Make-You-Fat.aspx

http://www.charlespoliquin.com/Blog/tabid/130/EntryId/54/Why-Women-Cant-Lose-Weight-Part-4-Women-and-Making-Time-for-Exercise.aspx

http://www.charlespoliquin.com/Blog/tabid/130/EntryId/55/Why-Women-Cant-Lose-Weight-Part-5-Women-and-Blood-Work.aspx

"The biggest problem that female athletes suffer from is the low expectations of male coaches"


     The following article is interesting for several reasons. First, it features Dan John, which guarantees that it will contain some great training insights. Second, it talk about developing upper body strength in female athletes, particular pressing movements. I am not sure if I agree with all of the points made but as someone who deals with primarily female athletes, the above quote really resonated with me. Many times over I have found the female athletes who were forgotten about by their coaches in the weight room are often the ones who make the most improvement once properly motivated and challenged. Check out Kasey's testimonial here for an example.

http://www.begin2dig.com/2010/07/pressing-matters-part-ii-dan-johns.html