Just in case anyone missed this, a great interview with John Welbourn at Starting Strength.
No Animals were harmed in the growing of John’s Fu-Man-Chu.
John Welbourn Interview on Starting Strength
Robb Wolf is a former research biochemist and 2X New York Times/Wall Street Journal Best-selling author of The Paleo Solution and Wired To Eat. Along with Diana Rodgers, he co-authored the book, Sacred Cow, which explains why well-raised meat is good for us and good for the planet. Robb has transformed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people around the world via his top-ranked iTunes podcast, books, and seminars. He also co-founded the 1st and 4th CrossFit affiliate gyms in the world, The Healthy Rebellion community platform, and is the co-founder of DrinkLMNT Electrolytes.
Search Robbwolf.com
That guy Welbourn is jacked (huge), nice shoes, btw. Really liked the talk on developing fundamental skills in your lifts as a baseline for future strength gains. How could he be doing that size on >50grams of carbs a day? I need to look into CF football more seriously.
It’s called “genetic disposition”. That’s not taking away from hard work, dedication, or decades Welbourn spent training for Football.
To him, 50g of carbs doesn’t mean jack.
Shaf-
John was hatched with good genetics to be sure but he was very systematic about his training. he has worked with damn near everyone and is damn knowledgeable.
Very solid set of videos… Makes me wish I was 5 again and had the mindset I do now.
Thanks for the link.
Good interview once you get used to Rips toad demeanor.
http://lifehacker.com/5507307/consider-maple-syrup-as-a-healthier-sweetener
Hey Robb, off topic question. I’ve got a client who’s recently pregnant. I remember you mentioning on the podcast that you’d dealt with training a number of pregnant women to good results recently and I was wondering if you could post / send me any details you might have. We’re working up to proper paleo, the only hitch being that she eats only chicken as meat. She’s willing to try red meat but has trouble with it so we’re going to magic her up some soup recipes and other things to help ease her into it.
She was told by her doctor not to lift heave or otherwise use her core too heavily so she’s gone to a 1 hour long spinning class to supplement crossfit. I’m not sure an hour of moderate stress is great but what do you think? Any recipes, guidelines for food intake, training tips, or anything else you could provide would be great! Details details details!
Thanks a bunch!
Lurene-
The “no lift weights” thing is just ridiculous. Use some common sense, stick with what she has generally been doing…not that tough! Here is apiece we did on the topic from 2006.
That was a sweet interview. John is the man. Thanks for posting it Robb.
I’m pretty sure John is singlehandedly responsible for the disappearance of multiple species of animal.
In the spirit of pseudo science I thought I’d point out that Welbourn’s mustache is a handlebar mustache not quite a Fu-man-chu. The chief benefit of this particular mustache is the ability to offer the ladies “a ride on the handlebars”.
Nigel-
This hair-splitting has left me scared. Hold me!
I haven’t been on the Crossfit website for quite some time. I went on this moring and I watched their condensed CFJ movie. I admit I didn’t watch all the movies, and that doctor is way smarter than me, but I smell B.S. Did he get a marketing degree from Nascar. The hat alone gives me pause. The fact that he looks like a fifteen year older Greg Glassman also concerns me. I went on his website and it may as well be Muscletech. Glassman was concerned you were launching Paleo Brands, and now his nutrition expert is wearing a hat advertising his supplements. I am utterly speechless, and now truely convinced between this and the chalkboard series that they are not only fucking with us but laughing their asses off while counting their cash. It’s too bad you have such high character. I’m sure Paleo Brands is all well and good, but you could have retired off the Wolf Shake. You just started Crossfit? Drink two Wolf Shakes everyday and in six months you will cut your Fran time in half. Maybe I should watch all those videos and I might learn something, but I feel like I may as well start smoking while watching those things. What a fucking joke.
Clay-
Thanks, it’s all very wacky. I’m just glad I’m in a position to help people unfettered.
Clay-
just watched that. All I can say is “WOW”!
WOW is right. If I think about it I get down right angry, so I will just let it go and not be a part of that world. On another note, I recently bought Wenderl’s 5/3/1 e book. I really like his style of writing and I am really happy with 5/3/1. I think that guy is onto something. I know you like his work and my question is this. Do you have a prowler? Do you think it is a worthwhile investment? I have been sprinting hills and would like some change. The prowler looks like it offers a variety of conditioning work. Just wondering if you have one and what you think.
P.S. actions speak louder than words and I truely believe you have shown great character. Your former employer, even though he tells anyone who will listen how celestial his intentions are…actions speak louder than words.
Clay-
Well, thanks for the support amigo. Much appreciated.
Wendell is legit. Have a plan, stick to it. Make small, incremental goals. Train hard enough to make progress, not so much that you regress. Take time off in a planned, structured way. It is very reminiscent of Rutman’s MEBB. Minimal dose, maximal return.
RE the CFJ lecture by Dr Scott Connelly – I did listen and it to me was really well worth a listen
So different from previous CFJ Zone biased talks.
Eg “There is nothing healthy about grains”
“How can you get more than enough protein?” He recommends protein several times the RDA and hardly eats any carbs himself.
Emphasis on importance Vitamin D levels
Interesting take on insulin resistance and sensitivity
Robb I would be interested on your take of his talk
Julianne-
I wrote another response elsewhere. I like the fact he focusses on insulin, that the body is not a static machine but a dynamic open system. That’s good stuff and folks need to hear it. What is troubling is the tie to supplements that are of marginal if any utility.
He better not tell Barry Sears he is taking in several times the RDA in protein! He needs to balance that protein with a twinkie or a ding-dong.
Robb – WOW good or WOW Bullshit?
The Scott Conley piece? He is a knowledgeable guy, has been around forever but his reliance on overhyped supplements he sells is a bit much for me. He has a new product that he claims “steroid like” results that has a LARGE whack of gluten! HE dismisses the gut-autoimmunity connection out of hand. It;s all damn convenient when you are selling supps like that. Trust me, I’ve been tempted to sell a few items, at the least some fish oil but I hope I maintain some integrity in the whole thing.
It is also interesting in that Welbourn and I got HAMMERED by CF for being part of a food company (paleo brands) yet they have subsequently brought in Sears and his Molecular Baked goods, Connley and his gluten filled shakes. I think there was another supplement guy as well? It’s ironic who they have left, given who they have kicked out.
Robb,
I tried that Progenix Recovery stuff, which they were giving out free to competitors at the CF games sectional qualifier I competed in. I did make sure there was no gluten in it first, as I’ve had an issue with that in the past. Seemed to be ok in that regard.
Did it work? Maybe, given I only had 2 of the shakes over the wknd so it’s tough to really judge, but I couldn’t tell any noticeable difference between it and any other post-WOD protein shake I’ve had as far as recovery goes. To be honest, I think the 2 lettuce wrapped (no bun) grass-fed double cheeseburgers and milkshake I had after the second day’s WODs did a much better job helping my recovery from the weekend. I’d recommend Elevation Burger in Montclair NJ if end up around there. Probably the closest thing the east coast has to in & out.
I did talk to the rep about it for a bit as well. IMO – it’s probably a good product compared to a bunch of other proteins out there, but it is a bit more expensive too. Also, I always get a bit skeptical when the studies claiming some amazing results in strength improvements and/or recovery are based on leg extensions or other isolated movements as he said they used. While I personally do use protein from time to time, I have always found getting enough good quality real food has given me the best results.
Haven’t had a chance to watch the video yet, but I’m interested to hear what he has to say in it. Just wanted to share my experience with the product.
Mike-
Thanks for that, I WILL check out Elevation Burger!
There is obviously a place for shakes and similar products, it;s just rare that I see their utility eclipse that of solid foods. If I rolled with a more endurance crowd, might be different.
Hey Robb,
Good commentary on the Connelly stuff. It is weird that he looks so old in the face. Anyways, what are your thoughts on having a shake at night with dinner to get in more protein if I can’t eat enough real food protein? Take for example most busy people, only some days they can get >1 g/lb/bdwt of protein from real food. On the other days, where you can’t reach that level of protein in real food, do you think it is worth it to have a shake with dinner to get in that extra protein? In an ideal world, this wouldn’t be an issue but I find myself dealing with this all the time. 210 grams of protein from real food everyday is tasty but often hard to achieve. Thanks
Mark-
It really depends on your goals. I have been doing anywhere from 2-3 LARGE meals per day and doing pretty well on that. I have no idea what the protein intake is but I’m just trying to lean out in anticipation of doing some BJJ tourneys. Strength is going up, BW is going down so I’m happy. What are your goals, then we can decide if you need that shake.
Hey Robb,
My main goal is to be lean (not sure what % is needed) for the first time in my life (ex-high school football player = bulk up!) but I keep hearing how important protein in (especially after watching the latest CFJ video). I love nutrition and training but my day job (finance stuff) and my part-time job (personal trainer in a globo-gym) keep my time limited (I cut training time to spend more time at home, making better food). I like following Martin’s IF schedule because it’s easy but I often find that I’m not able to eat that much whole food protein in the 8 hour window.
Anyways, I am trying to hit the holy grail of being lean while working out a limited amount each day (sub 30 minutes) and without spending all night in the kitchen prepping for the next day (my wife already calls the kitchen “my corner”). I’m content with my strength as I can deadlift 400+, squat 300+, power clean 200+, and bench close to 300 after not training for months. So nothing to write home about but I’m happy with it. My “cardio” and Fran time could definitely improve but I really don’t care too much about Fran or the other benchmarks. Crossfit is not my sport. My overall goal is akin to everyone else: be aesthetically pleasing while being somewhat functionally fit for a long time, done in a manner where I still have time left for friends and family.
Thanks for all your help. I’m looking forward to seeing your new material this weekend in NJ. It will be well worth the drive from Boston.
Thanks,
Mark
The point I was making is that JW is a big guy, and has trained big professionally. At this point, him consuming 50 g or less of carbs daily has very little to do with his size and strength, rather it’s more of a lifestyle and health choice and his previous work allows him to maintain much of what he has one a diet that, perhaps, would make it difficult for someone not him to build up to something similar.