In which I ponder to what extent actually carrying extra fat on our body is detrimental compared to the excess calories (and poor food choices that often accompany this) we consume  in order to get that extra fat, which, in and of itself, creates a stress to our health with health consequences of their own?  

How much of a toll is continuously digesting? Or, as Doug McGuff points out in Body by Science, are we creating an imbalance with too much anabolism and not enough catabolism? 

Lawrence started out with a podcast called Corporate Warrior and his enterprise has evolved and grown into "High Intensity Business".... as you google "Lawrence Neal high intensity business" prepare to be awed by one of, if not, the very best compilation of resources for rational exercise on the internet.  He will soon approach 400 podcasts with the greatest minds in exercise as well as other related topics including how to operate a successful exercise instruction business.  He also offers amazing courses by some of the top entrepreneurs in our industry.

I was very excited to interview Lawrence due to the fact that he has had the unique opportunity to expose himself to arguably more knowledge than anyone else....(unless you've listened/watched all his podcasts)

Over and above this, Lawrence has been operating his own successful facility in Ireland (google OptimaStrength) 

Not sure what Lawrence does with all his spare time as he and his wife have 2 young children.... but you know the old saying, if you want something done, ask a busy person....

This was very interesting.... for a number of reasons, as Luke has gone through many if not all strength training modalities, and all did produce results for him, he got stronger, but also a couple of torn biceps surgeries to show for it.  Also, Luke is first and foremost in my opinion, a critical thinker, balancing well between first principles, experience and keeping an open mind willing to try new things.  

While exercise instruction is not currently his primary focus (and about to become a first time dad, so....) he is in the process of starting 2 new businesses that will bring him full force into strength and wellness.

Enjoy!

Luke Hammond 
Director of Business Development and Recruitment at Ark Staffing & CRNA Together | Owner & Founder at Untamed Strength LLC

Overview of Untamed Strength LLC

Born from a lifelong passion for Strength, Health & Personal Wellness, Untamed Strength aims to be a leader in evidence-based resistance training. Years of research, training clients and field testing have gone into the development of our unique process, resulting in a methodology that requires a maximum of two thirty-minute sessions per week for the majority of clients. While this seems impossibly minimal, those who have been working with us have noticed unparalleled increases in strength, muscularity, conditioning, and overall functional ability. We believe that anyone can benefit from this style of training, and all are welcome.

All sessions are 1-on-1 and performed at a high level of effort, using compound and simple movements around joints to stimulate the target musculature in the most comprehensive way possible. There is a process to learning how to exercise in this manner, which will be covered in the initial consultation and tempered during the first round of sessions. Eventually, each client will have a protocol tailored exactly to their needs, lifestyle, goals, and areas in specific need of strength and functional rehabilitation. Our focus is to forge the best body genetics will allow and to do so in a way that minimises the risk of future injury, encourages consistency, and with the ultimate aim to keep the function and strength of the muscles, tendons, ligaments and bones at their peak over a lifetime.

Untamed has twenty-five of the best and most biomechanically appropriate devices featured in our first studio, all of which have been designed for optimal muscle stimulation, safety, adjustability, and efficiency. Starting in March 2021, we are starting our Spinal Health program, using some of the only rehabilitative exercise machines for the lumbar and cervical spine to have been approved by the FDA. Later, we will bring technologies for analysing and tracking body composition, testing maximal strength and coaching for nutritional programming. 

Daniel describes himself thus:  "Former SSEG  (Superslow Exercise Guild) Master, Gig Worker, Language Learner

I'm a former SSEG instructor, wanting to get back in the 'fitness' business. My eventual goal is to instruct exercise online to people in China, in Mandarin."

Daniel is the author of chapters 3, 4 and 5 of Ken Hutchins' book "The Renaissance of Exercise - A Vitruvian Adventure - Volume II.

Chapter 3 Advanced Considerations for MedX Testing Part 1

Chapter 4 Advanced Considerations for MedX Testing Part 2

Chapter 5 Advanced Considerations for MedX Testing Part 3

Daniel also brings up interesting concepts and "thought experiments on his Youtube Channel "Exercise Thoughts and Discussions".... google it... link is below but youtube descriptions doesn't seem to like links

My Youtube channel link:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-fnTsW-acEb6hCr7ssA1Qw

Dwayne Wimmer is the founder and trainer of Vertex Fitness. With professionalism, expertise and personal attention as his hallmarks, and the utmost concern for his clients' fitness and wellness as his vision, Dwayne has fulfilled his ultimate dream in opening his own physical fitness training center. His caring, patient yet guiding one-on- one approach encourages individuals to achieve their fitness goals at their own pace, all the while pushing them to the limits so they reach top physical condition.

Dwayne Graduated from Missouri Western State University with a Physical Education Degree and an emphasis in coaching. He is proud to say he walked on to the football team as a wide receiver and earned a starting position, for 3 years, as an offensive lineman at center. After his football career, while completing his degree, he was hired as a student football coach. He was the coach for running backs, tight ends and the offensive line. After graduating from MWSU, he went on to coach as a Graduate Assistant at East Stroudsburg University where he was in charge of the running backs.

Dwayne started his career in the fitness industry as a floor instructor at a YMCA, moving on to working at health clubs where he worked his way through positions such as a fitness instructor, personal trainer and fitness director. He has hired and trained instructors, also promoted popular weight management programs/seminars and expanded membership sales in the facilities he has worked for. In the late 1990’s Dwayne accepted an assistant strength & conditioning coach at Villanova University where he worked with male and female varsity athletics such as former Villanova Wildcat & Philadelphia Eagles running back Brian Westbrook.

Since 2001, Dwayne has owned and operated the award winning personal training studio Vertex Fitness on Philadelphia’s Main Line. 

Carl Johnson, retired US Air Force.... with a broad health management background, also a tennis instructor, and very active guy, on how he came to discover proper training and how it has, and continues to benefit him.

So much so, that he is looking to help out his community by providing this training to others.

Highlight:  how his wife who was diagnosed with Osteoporosis, chose strength training over drugs and has had her doctor note significant improvement!

77 year old Roger Schwab (2022) runs the X-Force City Center Gym in Philadelphia and was just awarded "Best of Philly" personal trainer.  

This man has been head judge for,  among many other professional bodybuilding contests, the  Mr. Olympia  and was around during what many call "the golden age" of bodybuilding.

He's known many legends though his modesty would probably make him uncomfortable with that description.

Early on, he learned from his mistakes (and those of others)  and met Arthur Jones, inventor of Nautilus and has never looked back.  

This podcast could have gone on for hours.  This gentleman has seen every aspect of the strength game, and knows first hand why it is important to train safely and intelligently.  Proof of his own beliefs, he is still as strong in many exercises at 77 as he was, as a younger man.

In other words he EPITOMIZES the title of this podcast:  "Living Stronger Longer (Your Best Life After 40)" .

*********************************************************

BEST OF PHILLY
2022 Trainer
Roger Schwab
This year's Best Trainer has been coaching for more
than 50 years. We watched the 77-year-old do his
thing at X-Force, his Center City gym equipped with
what are called "eccentric"
- or negative
strength-training machines that provide a tough-AF
workout. Schwab swears by the science behind X-
Force - machines that "stimulate a physiological
response by engaging muscles in their full range of
motion" by increasing the resistance by 40 percent
in the lowering (negative) phase of the rep.
Everybody, he believes, should train the same way:
"We all have the same muscles in our bodies." The
only thing that varies is intensity.
30 South 15th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102;

Though skill acquisition principles show that so called functional training is not based on sound science, perhaps the greater confidence it instills, plus the sense of accomplishment that comes from getting better at any skill can be very habit forming (addictive?).  This may explain the popularity no matter how bizarre of disconnected from anything you do as a daily activity it is.  

Confidence, however can be a very addictive drug, and cause people to continue to seek it, even in the face of getting injuries.  (not unlike an actual drug that you know is killing you, but the "high" is just too good)

Functional training soon starts to mimic sports, as in Crossfit games, and in fact, I suggest that the "cultural norm" of being obsessed with sports, and especially in pushing our kids to participate has a very dark side as exemplified by the injury statistics.

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/sports-injuries/sports-injury-statistics

Borrowing from Stephen R. Covey's (7 Habits of Highly Effective People) concept of how we make withdrawals and deposits into our personal integrity account whenever we either break or keep the promises to ourselves; and makes withdrawals and deposits into our emotional (relationshps) account when we break or keep promises to the people we interact with (as just one example of withdrawals and deposit); so do we make deposits and withdrawals into our fitness/health accounts based on the things we do or fail to do in our daily lives.

Also, how proper strength training not only builds muscles but also build character.  

I've know Andrew Baye since the early 90's.  I've been to Florida twice and been trained by him as well.

My first awareness were from the articles he wrote for the Superslow Exercise Standard newsletter...
... (pretty much before internet was a thing)

Today, Drew's site is https://baye.com/

Drew also runs a private group which members pay to belong to which is arguably the single best resource on the internet for guidance towards proper exercise:  https://forum.baye.com/home

I expect the link above will not get you in if you are not a paid member but will provide you with info on how to become a paid member.

There is little doubt that this members' forum along with the books on Drew's site by himself and Ken Hutchins represent the state of the art on rational strength training.  Check them out.