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diet EARTH: The Conant Method: The True Nutritional Solution

This book is like no other nutrition book written. The concepts and methodology I have written about you will not find in other books. This is not a DIET program, it is far from it. It is about how we are all interconnected to the this planet and how food is the driving force of our existence. I teach you how to eat, when to eat, what to eat, why you need to eat. There is so much information packed into 216 pages. After you read diet EARTH you will have a greater understanding of nutrition. This is not the end all be all to nutrition books. It is, however, my contribution to this planet. I am excited about this book and have worked hard in giving you my best. I hope you enjoy it.

The first shipment of books will be arriving sometime next week. You can pre-order a copy today.

PRE-ORDER .You can go to www.darylconant.com to order.

Thank you all for your support. I truly appreciate it.

Daryl Conant, M.Ed
Author: diet EARTH & InVINCEable

tags: diet earth, vince gironda, steroids, nutrition, health,

Tidbits For My Fellow Blog Readers

A Word About Caffeine
Caffeine is the most widely used drug in the world. It is a potent stimulant and may be consumed in a multitude of forms. These include: coffee, tea, cola drinks, chocolates, cold remedies, pain relievers and dozens of other over-the-counter drugs.
Caffeine also is a powerful stimulant to nerve tissues. It affects the higher centers of the brain, producing a wakening effect and a more rapid flow of mental processes. It assists the body in overcoming the sense of fatigue, however, it does not relieve it.
Caffeine Facts:

•Two cups of coffee will cause an increase in hydrochloric acid (HCL) in the stomach for at least an hour. This is a problem for anyone suffering from an ulcer or over-acidity problem.
•Caffeine slows the rate of healing of stomach ulcers.
•One cup of coffee will cause a rise in blood pressure.
•Caffeine decreases the body's ability the handle stress.
•In pregnant women, caffeine will enter the fetal circulation in the same concentrations as the mothers. May be related to birth defects.
•Withdrawal symptoms tend to discourage people from giving up caffeine.
•Continued use of caffeine may lead to insomnia, nervousness, restlessness and even tremors.
•Caffeine masks fatigue when the body needs to rest.
•Caffeine increases respiration rate, urine output and an increase of fatty acids into the bloodstream.

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•Caffeine will increase the production of cortisol. The omentum houses cortisol. People who have abused caffeine for many years can develop an over distended omentum. This is the fat that sits in front of the abdominal area. It is often times hard and compacted.
•Chronic caffeine intake will directly influence poor production of the thyroid gland and adrenal glands.

Birth Control Pills

Because of the estrogen content in oral contraceptives, studies have shown that women on the pill have lower than normal blood serum levels of Vitamin B6 and Vitamin C. Daily supplementation should be 50-75 mg. of B6 and 1000-2000 mg. of Vitamin C. A time release C would be best.

Air Pollution

Smog- All major cities in the Unites States have some form of chemical air pollution. This pollution will affect your lung's capacity to deliver oxygen efficiently to the cells of the body. The antioxidants (Vitamins A, C, E, selenium, and betacarotene) may prove to be effective in combating some of the effects of smog.
Smoke- Second-hand smoke of cigarettes, cigars and pipes all have a detrimental effect on the oxygen carrying capacity of the red blood cells. Smoke contains carbon monoxide which may adhere to the site on the red blood cell that should be carrying oxygen.

Sugar

Sugar requires B vitamins and minerals to enable the body to metabolize it into glucose, yet it contains none of these. Therefore, it must take the nutrients away from other body functions that may need them.
Sugar may also increase the rate at which we excrete the mineral calcium, making bones more fragile and may even weaken heart action.
Oxalate, contained in chocolate, unites with calcium carrying it through the intestines as an insoluble compound.
Theobromine in chocolate may reduce the absorption of protein through the intestinal wall.
Note High sugar intake reduces the effectiveness of the body's healing mechanism, causing a prolongation in the healing time.

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Rotator Cuff Part One

Over the past months its seems that many people are complaining of shoulder pain. When I evaluate these clients I find that they are suffering from dysfunction related to the rotator cuff muscles. This has prompted me to write about the rotator cuff in a way that you can understand. I will be breaking this blog up into two parts. Part one will be about the biomechanics of the rotator cuff and clinical pathology. Part two will be about exercises for working the rotator cuff area.

Biomechanic Function of The Rotator Cuff

The rotator cuff consists of tendinous insertions of the subscapularis, supraspinatus, infraspinatus and teres minor muscles. These muscles form a roof, that surrounds the head of the humerus anteriorly (front side), superiorly and posteriorly. Co-contraction of these muscles stabilizes the glenohumeral joint during regular activities. In particular, abduction in the plane of the scapula will be accomplished principally by action of the deltoid muscle, but this acts nearly vertically when the humerus is still close to the side of the body, and so tends to sublux the head of the humerus superioly. The rotator cuff muscles act more horizontally, and their tensions combine with that of the deltoid to direct the force of the superior concavity of the glenoid, which is normally in a stable state.

Conversely, rotator cuff deficiency leads to superior subluxation of the head of the humerus, leading to impingement against the coracoacromial ligament, accompanied by adbuction weakness and a loss of motion. Pain is referred to the superior lateral aspect of the humerus. Causes of supraspinatus degeneration is not fully understood. It is believed that the cause of degeneration is a result of shearing forces between the layers of the histological and mechanical properties of the different layers of the supraspinatus tendon. Also, the area is sensitive to compressive forces, such as superior impingement beneath the acromion. Another root cause could be excessive humeral rotation causing tension and slack to the edges of the supraspinatus tendon.

Clinical Pathology
The rotator cuff's primary function is to centralize the humeral head, limiting superior translation during abduction. The supraspinatus, infraspinatus, and teres minor tendons insert on the greater tuberosity, whereas the subscapularis tendon inserts on the lesser tuberosity. The subscapularis tendon lies on the anterior aspect of the anterior capsule of the glenohumeral joint, and its superior portion is intraarticular. The subscapularis bursa lies between the subscapularis tendon and the scapula. As the subscapularis muscle becomes attenuated from repeated episodes of dislocation, it may be the source of recurrent instability. The rotator cuff interval is located between the superior aspect of the subscapularis tendon and the inferior aspect of the suprspinatus tendon. This interval contains the coracohumeral ligament and the superior glenohumeral ligament. The rotator interval lesion has been attributed to a possible deficiency of the superior glenohumeral ligament. Surgical closure of the interval appears to eliminate excessive inferior translation.

Dysfunctional Pathology
Tears developed by acute trauma or chronic impingement tend to be the major dyfunction associated with the rotator cuff. Clients will express complaints associated with the anterior lateral aspect of the humeral head and will have a reduced range of motion. An impingement disorder has many variables attached to it; the rotator cuff muscles, the long head of the biceps, the subacromial bursa, the AC joint, the acromion and the humeral head can all be associated to acting upon the stress of the shoulder. The impingement occurs when the subacromial space is decreased to the point where tearing is evident compromising the centralizing effect of the cuff allowing the humerus to shift beyond regular range.


There are three stages to rotator cuff impingement disorder. Type I: Slight rotator cuff degeneration or irritation (tendonitis) no visible tearing. Type II: Moderate rotator cuff degeneration with partial tearing of the articular or bursal surfaces. Type III Complete tearing, degeneration and functional incapacity.

Many of the rotator tears are associated with improper shoulder biomechanics and over use syndrome. Insufficient contractile strength in the deltoids, trapezeus, pectoralis minor can also be a leading factor in the development of rotator dysfunction. Muscle imbalances and weakness will force the smaller inferior muscles of the shoulder to generate contractile forces beyond their capacity resulting in acute inflammatory factors and degeneration. Rotator cuff tendonitis can be attributed to chronic repetitive eccentric tensile overload of the rotator tendons. Most tears are attributed to degenerative lesions associated with increasing age. Athletes, from over use and high impact, tend to be more susceptible to tears as well.

Depending on the severity of the damage to the rotator cuff a person can successfully remedy the situation with proper exercise and biomechanical leveraging. I will discuss this further in the exercise for the rotator cuff part two. I hope that this has helped you gain a better understanding of the mechanisms of the rotator cuff.


tags: tiger woods, red sox, bruin, celtics, rotator cuff, impingement syndrome, steroids, muscle, daryl conant, vince gironda,

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Taking A Break From Training

The body is a great machine. However, like all machines the body has to take an occasional break. Training every day for months on end is not productive. It is important to give the body a break to allow for the cells, nervous system, endrocrine system and brain to be restored, repaired, and recharged. Training with high intensity day after day, week after week will eventually dull the neural machinery of the cell causing a weak synapse of the neuromuscular junction. The result is that the neural drive will not be as strong and the myofibrals won't contract as hard. Also, the blood volume will be decreased into the area lessoning "pumped up" efect that you are accustomed to achieving with intense training. Your muscles will feel tired and you won't be able to lift as much weight. You might even feel sore and lethargic after workouts during the recovery phase. When this occurs the body is over trained and a break is necessary to reestablish cellular and neural pathways.

Many people feel that if they take time off form training that they will lose all of their hard earned gains. This is not true, in fact, it is best to take occasional breaks to grow more. Though during the initial time off the muscle might feel softer and appear to be smaller, they will get a tremendous surge of blood greater contractibility when you return to training. This increase in new energy will improve the intensity and allow the muscle to produce greater contractions. Stronger contractions allows for more fiber recruitment. More fiber recruitment equals more hypertrophy, therefore greater increases in strength and muscle size can result.

Taking a week off from training is hard on the ego for some guys. But they must get past the idea of appearing smaller. This is an insecurity issue and one that does not go with the True Bodybuilders plan. It is important to leave your ego at the door and realize that taking some time off is actually more beneficial for your body and your training than if you continue to burn yourself out over training.

So go on a vacation, maybe to Key West and relax, fish, hang out by the pool bagging some rays, and chill with the family. Because that is where I am going next week and that is what I will be doing. When I come back I will tear it up again in the weight room. See ya!

tags: fitness, nutrition, exercise, tiger woods, Red Sox, bodybuilding, health, ipad, modern family,

The Importance of Sleep

In order to repair and grow new muscle it is important to get the required amount of sleep. During the sleep pattern the cellular machinery can be repaired. Fragments from the tearing down of the cross bridges and other particles that break up during intense exercise in the cell are able to be removed by neutrophils and monocytes. The coded DNA in the nucleus resets the cellular organelles and helps re-establish the proper sodium / potassium and calcium ion concentrations. The cross bridges, myosin and actin, are rebuilt. The end result is that the cell is cleared of harmful fragments and debris left behind during intense contractions. A well recovered muscle will provide an increase in the anaerobic and aerobic enzymes. By having a greater increase in the size and number of these enzymes the muscle is better at utilizing fat and sugar as energy. Also, there is usually an increase in the saracoplasm of the cell.

Another reason for getting enough sleep is to help maintain proper weight body composition. Not getting enough sleep can alter the growth factors that are essential in allowing the body to be repaired. Sleep hormones are released as the body begins to fall asleep. THis is the natural anesthesia of the body. When the body is in a deep delta wave sleep growth factors are released. For optimal repair and hormone manufacturing the body must get into level 4 sleep. If the body doesn't get into this state then the body cannot repair effectively. The end result is the fat gain. This is because the muscle never gets the chance to fully recharge producing a catabolic effect. Also, hunger hormones are secreted in high concentrations and this causes a problem with the satiety. The central nervous must be turned off into sleep mode during the night in order to re-establish neural circuitry. Failure to allow the nerves to balance responsive synapse will, over time, cause a break down in the system.

In addition the cardiovascular system suffers from lack of sleep. As mentioned, sleep re-establishes the electrical circuitry of body. When sleep deprived the cardiovascular system is not fully charged and the result is a weaker impulse. This can cause conductivity problems with the heart itself. Irregular heart beats, cardiovascular disease and heart attacks are more prone during weak conductivity.

Mood disorders, irritability, anxiousness, depression, anger, weight loss (muscle loss), fat gain, heart problems are all symptoms of lack of sleep.

The bottom line is that you must get your required amount of sleep per night in order to keep the body systems working effectively. Chronic sleeplessness will cause the body to deteriorate into dysfunction of systems. Now go get some rest!

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tags: sleep, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Red Sox, Dancing with The Stars, Steroids, Bodybuilding, Nutrition, protein, Boston Bruins, Daryl Conant

One of The Best Versions Ever

Email Questions Part 3

Hello Daryl thanks for answering our questions. I appreciate it cause I been trying to find answers to these.

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1. Vince Gironda advocates glandulars. I agree with them being nutrient dense next to eggs, milk and steak. But what scientific evidence do they hold to raise testosterone? Specifically orchic?
Supplements aren't anabolic. They only help assist in the production of testosterone. In order for testosterone to be produced their must be a series of chemical reactions in the body through a variety of enzymatic changes. In order to boost the levels of testosterone these synergistic reactions must be synchronized at the right time during recovery. Supplements such as glandulars and orchic help assist in providing the essential driving nutrients that are responsible for the molecular reactions necessary for building the machinery of the cells. When the cells are built and cleared waste products the synthesis of testosterone can reload and provide the anabolic drive necessary for future muscular workloads. When a supplement claims that it increases testosterone levels. It doesn't increase the physicality of testosterone. If it did that would be known as a anabolic steroid. What is meant by these claims is that the product is a precursor to testosterone in that it helps support the necessary chemical reactions in the cell (nucleus, ribosomes, etc.) to help synthesis new testosterone production. Glandulars are great because "glands nourish like glands". Vince turned me on to glandulars twenty years ago. The premise is if you keep your organs and glands well nourished then they will be able to do their job must more efficiently. When the vital organs are working optimally then hormone production, blood production, and the anabolic properties of the muscle cell are enhanced. Which is the reason why supplements are so crucial in the health of the body.

Here is how Orchic works

Orchic
Healthy Orchic Gland Function
The testes secrete several male sex hormones, collectively called androgens. Testosterone, the most abundant of these androgens, is responsible for the distinguishing characteristics of the masculine body. Testosterone influences protein formation, muscle function, basal metabolism, and red blood cell formation. Testosterone functions as part of an intricate feedback system in conjunction with the hypothalamus and the anterior pituitary gland to help regulate male sexual functions.

How Orchic Keeps You Healthy
Orchic is a derivative testicular glands. If the testis are healthy then the manufacturing of testosterone is optimal. Orchic maintains cellular health Protomorphogen™ extract is the brand name of Standard Process’ extracts derived from nucleoprotein-mineral molecules. The foundation for the function of these uniquely formulated nucleoprotein-mineral extracts comes from the antigen-antibody reaction that takes place during normal cell maintenance. The antigenic properties promote healthy cellular division, function, and growth. When a tissue needs support, at least a dozen different compounds are formed that can cause white blood cells to travel together toward the compromised area. These compounds include degenerative products of the tissues themselves. They strongly activate the macrophage system, and within a few hours, the macrophages begin to devour the destroyed tissue byproducts. At times, the macrophages can also affect the structure of the remaining healthy cells. Please refer my blog entry entitled What is Hypertrophy? How does the muscle cell increase? (February 11, 2010 entry) for a more in depth look at the cellular level.

The bovine orchic PMG™ extract in Orchic PMG appears to neutralize the circulating antibodies, thereby contributing to the maintenance of cellular health. Improves calcium absorption and supports nervous system function. Calcium lactate is a highly soluble calcium salt and naturally bioavailable –it changes to calcium bicarbonate (the type used by the body) in one chemical step. Unlike some other forms of calcium that are less soluble in water and need higher acid concentrations to be absorbed, calcium lactate exists near a more neutral pH and does not require acid conditions to work. Calcium is important for the healthy functioning of the nervous system and transmission of nerve impulses. The calcium lactate in Orchic PMG is derived from pure-vegetable sources of calcium, not dairy sources.

Sustains metabolic efficiency
While magnesium is present in most cells in only minute quantities, it plays an important role in human metabolism, as does its partner, calcium. It functions in such reactions as nerve conduction and nerve excitability, transfer of energy, muscular activity, and many other specific processes. Magnesium functions as a cofactor, assisting enzymes in catalyzing many chemical reactions. Magnesium and calcium are synergistic, meaning that what they do for the body together, they cannot perform on their own.

Personally I take orchic 1 hour before workouts on an empty stomach. Then I take it right after workouts.


2. Eating 6 small meals vs 3-4? I hear eating 3 meals is great for curing leptin resistance? How does this affect a person trying to achieve a lean physique?
The body regulates to different bio-rhythms. Yes eating 3 meals a day can help regulate the leptin resistance for people who are accustomed to eating three meals a day. The body will adapt to the food intake and will activate the hunger sequence during the day to match the bio-rhythms. However, eating three times a day might not be the best for people because of the over consumption factor. Many people will over consume too much food in order to fill up. This will over time produce digestion distress and stretching of the stomach and intestines. Causing over production of Ghrelin and leptin. If a person is active and trying to maintain lean body mass it is better to eat 5-6 small meals (the size of your hand) to help keep the digestive system working optimally without overloading the system. The hunger hormone levels will change, adapting to to eating every couple of hours. This change in the bio-rhythms will cause you to have to eat every few hours. If you miss meals then the hunger hormones will fire off forcing the need for food. The key is to stick with a plan and not to deviate from it. The food must be consistent at the same time of day in order satisfy the regulatory systems. The goal is to digest as much of the food as you take in. When you are not getting the nutrients in then the systems are compromised. By eating small nutrient dense foods throughout the day will keep your hormones regulated and balanced. It will also encourage keeping the stomach small. Also, eating frequently will keep the intestines contracting throughout the day allowing for greater calorie production in that area. No need to do thousands of sit-ups just eat small meals to keep the mid section small.

3. Did Vince ever do sprints?
I don't know if he ever did sprints. He wouldn't oppose sprints. He would recommend jumping rope, cycling, and sprinting as ways to improve the cardiovascular system. He would always make reference to having muscle like a sprinter. Would you rather look like a sprinter or a marathon runner? Wind sprints are a great anaerobic exercise to do. They can be done during vacations or resting weeks when not lifting weights.

4. When is the best time of the day to take a lipotropic?
Lipotropics can be taken throughout the day. I prefer taking them with breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Make sure to have fat with protein shakes after workouts.

5. How much iodine should people get in their diet?
Iodine is an essential trace mineral. It helps in the production of thyroxin. Thyroxin is secreted by the thyroid gland. Those deficient in iodine can develop goiters, and thermogenic dysfunction. The recommended daily allowance is 150 micrograms or .15 mg per daily. That is equivalent to taking in about a 1/2 teaspoon of celtic sea salt, or 1 kelp tablet. I take 18.5 mg of potassium iodine daily in supplement form. There is no need to take in large amounts of iodine. But you want to make sure that you take in enough to maintain good health of the thyroid.

6. Isn't training 5x a week raise cortisol if done too frequently? And how is growth hormone effected done 5-6x a week? Both short workouts though max 40min sessions.
Cortisol levels increase from stress. The more stress you place on the endrocrine system the more cortisol is produced. So you must train according to the physiological laws that govern the body. You can train 5 times a week, but you must know how to change the intensities of the exercise and know what body parts to work. The muscle needs 48 hours to recuperate. Also, the duration of the training session must be considered. Exercising too long will produce too much catecholamine production which ultimately will cause the muscles to shrink, and compromising the immune system. If you don't over exceed the release of cortisol then you can recover in time to train the next day. If over train you will notice a big change in your energy and repairability. The key is to train 30-40 minutes with the right amount of intensity. Too much intensity 90-100% maximum is not necessary.

Growth hormone secretes in varying intensities. You can secrete growth hormone if training correctly everyday. By changing the exercise protocols frequently will produce new stimulation to the endrocrine and nervous system. Whenever there is a change in the adaptability of these two systems growth hormone is secreted to help re-establish adaptation. Growth hormone is secreted during the following stages of training.

1. warm-up 50% maximum, 2. Lifting stage 85% maximum, 3. Heavy training beyond capacity (the fear zone) 100-110% maximum, 4. Flushing or burning stage (30-45%). Knowing how to train and manipulate the weights to allow for greater growth hormone secretion is the name of the game when it comes to body building.

There is a fine line to staying anabolic and catabolism. You can train everyday if you know how to control your endrocrine system. Many people overtrain and end up damaging their systems.

7. Vince advocates low stomach pH but isn't true muscles prefer a basic vs acidic environment? Hence fat + protein + greens are the ideal meal? With hcl tabs and digestive enzymes for optimal digestion.
I don't know where you heard that Vince advocates low stomach PH. He would advocate an alkaline diet for those trying to lose weight and for those that have been on a high protein diet for long periods of time. They would only stay on the alkaline diet for a short time. He was advocated the use of digestive enzymes to help breaks down food. His high protein diets produced an acidic environment. High acidic states actually kill off virus'. Low ph levels habor viruses. You are correct fat+protein+greens are the ideal meal along with digestive enzymes. Vince was all about fat and protein.

Thank you for the questions.

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Daryl

tags: vince gironda, orchic, tiger woods, the fitness nut, steroids, ipad, apple's ipad, itouch,