I’m not sure if I have shared with you that I am keeping a log of what I do for each workout. They can be viewed right here on the site.
Since I initially started thinking about my goals for 2012 back in November of last year, I’ve done some reading, especially in terms of weight loss, and seen conflicting stories & books about what to do.
brain over brawn
First up, I read a book called brain over brawn. It is an eBook that you can download for free directly from the website, or purchase a paperback copy from Amazon. It isn’t a book that gives you exact eating and exercise, just a formula to follow that will help you along your path to weight loss success.
The author of brain over brawn shares his success through modifying the balance of carbohydrates, fats and proteins in your diet, and that there are two types of meals you should have, and they need to be eaten in a specific pattern. Seems rather complicated to me, especially when not knowing what I will be doing different days of the week. The author says it can be achieved by basic planning, but seems like lots of change, not something that is conducive to changing a habit.
brain over brawn also recommends the Pareto principle, otherwise known as the 80/20 rule, when it comes to exercise, 80% of the results comes from 20% of the workout, you just need to determine which 20% of the workout to keep. There are some suggestions for exercises, but I don’t recall reading anything about specific quantities to achieve results.
Four Hour Body
The book I am currently reading now is Four Hour Body by Tim Ferriss (author of Four Hour Work Week). Having read a few chapters of this book, it suggests that by changing a few things in your lifestyle, and working to “minimum effective dose (MED)” will give you the required results. MED basically says that if you need 10 minutes to tan, you only spend 10 minutes in the sun and no more, anything more than 10 minutes is wasted time. I suspect this is driven by his principles in his first book, Four Hour Work Week.
Time Ferriss also shares that you can have dramatic results with minimal change from your current lifestyle. Some would say that “if it sounds too good to be true, it must be”. I lean on that side of the fence, but if someone as successful as Tim is staking their reputation on the line, then maybe there is some truth to it.
Others
I’m open to reading other books, realistic books & programs that make changes easy and simple, will work with lifestyles that get out of whack easily and often, and achieve results.
Which books have you read about weight loss? What advice can you give a man starting a journey?
