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Understanding Research Claims for Supplements

September 4, 2013 by

Here’s the next episode of the UNCENSORED Podcasts Season 3.

What about supplement claims? If you are reading an article that sounds too good to be true - it probably is too good to be true.

What about supplement claims? If you are reading an article that sounds too good to be true – it probably is too good to be true.

Today’s Topic:  Understanding Research Claims for Supplements

Today John speaks with Dr. Julie Conquer:

Dr. Conquer’s Educational background:

University of Toronto
PhD, Molecular Pathology
1990 – 1994

University of Guelph
MSc, Nutritional Sciences
1988 – 1990

University of Waterloo
BSc, Biology
1983 – 1987

Dr. Conquer has 10 years of experience on clinical trials on dietary supplements.  Now she is working on putting the research together.

What you will learn in the podcast:

  • What is the structure of research claims?
  • What is really supporting the research claims?
  • What is a review compared to a systematic review?
  • What is a clinical trial?
  • What are clinical good practice trials?
  • What is double blind?
  • What are the standards for double blind?
  • What is pre-trial disclosure?
  • What are the recent improvements in quality in clinical trials?
  • What is the Jadad scale?
  • What is randomization?
  • What is required for randomization?
  • What about weight loss studies?
  • How do the behaviors of people in the study effect the outcome?
  • What about people who drop out of a study?
  • Is safety an end point in studies?
  • What is the difference between the media stories vs. the actual studies?
  • Why is the gap between media stories and the actual studies so great?
  • Why we should never just look at just the latest study?
  • Should you rely on mainstream media for the truth about clinical trials?
  • Why you should look at only at the results section in the study.
  • Are there some places where people can find the truth about supplement studies?
  • What is peer review?

If you are reading an article that sounds too good to be true – it probably is too good to be true.

The National Standards Supplement Database is available for immersion customers as a service we provide to help fill the gap.  It is updated regularly. It is available in your Venus Cockpit.


IMMERSION Clients May Login and Download Podcast Here

Not an Adonis Index IMMERSION client? Click here to find out more… and hear a weird story too

Filed Under: Featured Articles, health, Supplements, Uncategorized, Uncensored Podcasts S03 Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

TGIF: The Goal Is Frequency

August 2, 2013 by

Whether it be the closing of a busy week or your local restaurant hang out, TGIF is an acronym that many are familiar with.  However, for today’s post TGIF  stands for “The Goal Is Frequency.”   In the fitness context, frequency means how often a person exercises.  As AT11 comes to a close we will have the chance to interview some of the top contestants and inquire about their frequency of workouts during the contest.

iStock_000016525011XSmall

TGIF: The Goal Is Frequency

 

Successful transformations are often achieved by those individuals who determined the frequency of their workouts to be a significant key to their success.   Frequency also influences other characteristics and behaviors such as habit and momentum.  Habit is in direct correlation to frequency because the more times you step into the gym to workout that habit is strengthened and cultivated.  Someone who is in the habit of going to the gym regularly has a greater chance of developing momentum towards a worthwhile goal or deadline such as our transformation contests.

To give an example, how exciting would it be to go to a basketball game where there were no goals and the  only thing the players did was dribble and pass to one another?  Hardly worth watching and even possibly a waste of time.  The problem is there was nothing to shoot for… no GOAL!

In conclusion, to all  my brothers in Iron, I’d like to encourage both the beginners and the senior members to  remember TGIF: “The Goal is Frequency.”    Each time you step into the gym with an AGR workout you are armed with a game plan to achieve your “Golden” Physique, the ball is now in your court and it’s up to you to shoot  for the goal… Train Hard and Good Luck!

yours in fitness,

Allen Elliott| Adonis Golden Ratio Ambassador

Filed Under: body image, Contest, exercise, Sage Advice, Workout Design Tagged With: , , , , , ,

How Much Weight Should You Use During Workouts?

July 19, 2013 by

In the upcoming weeks John and I will seek to provide our feedback and insight on “trending” topics and questions from within the  AGR Community.

Today’s topic is a frequently asked question among our newest brothers in iron.  The question many people ask once they begin the AGR workouts is, “How Much Weight Should I Use?”

 

Adonis Golden Ratio: Solid Goals & Simple Metrics

Adonis Golden Ratio: Solid Goals & Simple Metrics

Unique to the the AGR program,  the repetition ranges are specifically designed for positive progression toward your “Golden” Adonis Index Score, which is based on the  Fibonacci Sequence and cyclical, periodized weight training.

It’s important to note  that a “repetition” or “REP” is directly related to a suggested level of effort.  The level of effort on a scale of  1 to 10, will determine the amount of weight that you train with.

Below is break-out of REP ranges and the level of effort that should be applied when lifting a specific amount of weight.

AGR-Bo

 

FINAL THOUGHTS:

  • Give yourself permission to lift lighter weights, to maintain your form.
  • Always use a spotter if you are training with heavy weights.
  • It’s ok to train while “sore” but NOT while “hurt.”
  • Try, Fail, Adjust– Record the amount of weight you use and look for opportunities to SAFELY increase upon the weight used in previous workouts.
Filed Under: exercise, Model, Muscle Building, Physique Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

AT11: The Final Countdown

July 12, 2013 by

In the last remaining weeks of AT11 it’s imperative that you maintain your pursuit towards that  “Golden” transformation.  I’ve often heard the transformation contest described as a “Marathon” with a series of sprints.  Today’s post will strive to ensure that you are keeping pace and that you’ll have enough “fuel in the tank” to sprint to the end in order to present your best physique.

AT11: The Final Countdown

AT11: The Final Countdown

Contest Photo Submissions for AT11 will be due no later than Sunday August 11th at midnight Eastern Standard Time.  AT11 is trending to be our largest competition to date based on the number of contest entries.

For many contestants, this is the first workout program that you’ve followed consistently.  Thank you for your commitment to the Adonis Golden Ratio Program and more importantly for your commitment to your own personal goals. Win or lose, remember that your transformation is a personal achievement and you should be very proud of your accomplishment.

In a previous post, I discussed the Four Key Ingredient necessary in order to become “Photo-Shoot Ready” on command.  Those ingredients are:

1. Conditioning

2. Posing

3. Tanning

4. Photography/Lighting

Keeping these concepts in mind will help you capture some amazing images of your new & improved physique.

In conclusion, to all my brothers in Iron, I hope your enjoying living the Adonis Lifestyle and to those contestants in AT11, come August 5th, I look forward to congratulating you on your transformation!

v/r

Allen Elliott

Filed Under: body image, Contest, Goals, health, Identity, Sage Advice Tagged With: , , , ,

What To Do About Injuries

July 10, 2013 by

Here’s the next episode of the UNCENSORED Podcasts Season 2.

Today’s topic:  What To Do About Injuries

Images showing hand in a bandage with a thumbs up

The key to being able to stay physically active long term is to 1) not get injured, and 2) learn to manage injuries properly.

 

Today John and Brad will talk about the main philosophy of the Adonis Workout being to remain physically active most of your life.  It is to be able to weight train all your life without injury if possible.  On your menu of goals should be “Am I able to do this injury free?  Or at least with minimal injury?”

Some people are genetically more durable, more athletic, and have a special kind of connection between mind and body.  Most of us are not gifted the way pro athletes are.  The key to being able to stay physically active long term is to 1) not get injured, and 2) learn to manage injuries properly.

Be careful not to let your goals get hijacked by younger or genetically gifted trainers.  Your age and your “training age” come into play for what is right for you.  Just because a young or gifted trainer knows something well and is (or was) good at something does not mean it’s good for you.   You have to consider whether or not it’s right for you given your age,”training age”, and genetic abilities.

John will tell you about what to do to work around an injury and how to avoid over use injuries.  A big part of the Adonis design is to avoid over use injuries by constantly changing up the routines.  John said that working out and making progress for even one year injury free is a pretty big win.

IMMERSION Clients May Login and Download Podcast Here

Not an Adonis Index IMMERSION client? Click here to find out more… and hear a weird story too

Filed Under: body image, diet, exercise, Goals, Uncensored Podcasts S02 Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

“The Golden Birthday Gift” Interview with AT10 Winner Mike Cerantola

July 1, 2013 by

Here’s your new interview with one of the winners from the 10th Adonis Golden Ratio Transformation Contest.

Today we get to hear from Mike Cerantola who placed 10th in our last 12-Week Transformation contest.

Mike’s Transformation Journey begans when he received a severe “wake-up call” from his doctor.  He was 18 at the time and had just weighed in 315 pounds.  Prompted to take action he began to look for weight loss solutions.  Bound and determined, he found results in playing a popular video game called “Dance Dance Revolution.”  His results were uncanny, he lost more than 85 pounds in about 3 months!

However it wasn’t until one year ago,  when Mike would receive his “Golden Birthday Gift.”  He was first introduced to the Adonis Golden Ratio by a fellow “Sister in Iron”  Jessie T, VT6 contest winner from  the Venus Index.

Mike picked up the Muscle Building Foundation and Eat Stop Eat Plans and catapulted his transformation even further than he could imagine.  Scroll down to listen to how Mike was able to make more progress in one year compared to the previous seven!

Check-Out Mike’s AT10 Pictures:

Mike Cerantola - AT10 10th Place - Before Photos

Mike Cerantola – AT10 10th Place – Before Photos

 

Michael Cerantola - AT10 10th Place - Transformation Image

Michael Cerantola – AT10 10th Place – Transformation Image

 

Michael Cerantola - AT10 10th Place - After Photos

Michael Cerantola – AT10 10th Place – After Photos

Mike’s Transformation Essay:

AT10 was a completely different shift of mentality from AT9.  I spent most of my time  focusing on making my training and gym times a fun habit instead of viewing going to the gym as an ‘errand’, or ‘chore’.  I had no problem adapting to that,unfortunately I did not place.

I realized that even though I was pushing it really hard in the gym, I had gotten cocky and stopped using myfitnesspal to count calories and just assumed “yeah yeah, I’m always between 1500-1800”. I became the victim instead of the victor. AT10 was all about keeping my diet in check, adapting ESE to fit with my lifestyle and schedule.

Coming from a 315 lb background where I used to eat well over 3-4k cals a day, cutting from 1500 to 1300 and finally to 1000 for the last 3-4 weeks was probably one of the most difficult ongoing mental battles of my overall transformation. It’s easy to “auto-pilot” to the gym and then you’re there so you do your workout, but it is very difficult to “auto-pilot” not eating when you’re at home, not keeping too occupied, and having a mind that always thinks and reverts to food.

After placing in AT10 I am reflecting on this experience with the knowledge, willpower, and dedication to not fall off the bandwagon. I reached my golden waist, I have gotten used to eating ~1300/day, and now my next journey is maintaining my waist while slowly developing an extra 3 inches in my shoulders, which should take a couple of years.

I placed a quick before and after side-by-side from 1 year ago to my 1st day of AI 3.0, compared to now, and I am proud to say that I have achieved a level of physique that does not make me anywhere remotely near as self conscious as I used to be. The Adonis Lifestyle has changed my life.

I feel I’ve began to develop good habits that I will use as a takeaway and apply to the remainder of my lifestyle…Leanness is awesomeness!

 

Mike’s Transformation Interview:

See below to listen to Mike’s transformation podcast interview:

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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Filed Under: Contest, Stories, Transformation Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,
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