The Value of Self-Experimentation [Plus: Extreme Videos - Do Not Try This At Home] 462 Comments
The following is an excerpt from the appendices of The 4-Hour Body, which explores a common question: Can self-experimentation be valid at all, compared to placebo-controlled studies?
As we shall see, self-experimentation need not be extreme (I do the extremes so you don’t have to), and you can make significant discoveries with a sample size of one.
I’ll let a professional, Dr. Seth Roberts, explain how…
The Value of Self-Experimentation
“All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson
“It doesn’t matter how beautiful your theory is, it doesn’t matter how smart you are. If it doesn’t agree with experiment, it’s wrong.” —Richard Feynman
This is an excerpt from The 4-Hour Body, written by Dr. Seth Roberts, professor emeritus of psychology at the University of California–Berkeley and professor of psychology at Tsinghua University. His work has appeared in the New York Times Magazine and The Scientist, and he is on the editorial board of the journal Nutrition.
###
I started self-experimentation when I was a grad student. I was studying experimental psychology; self-experimentation was a way to learn how to do experiments.
One of my first self-experiments was about acne. My dermatologist had prescribed tetracycline, an antibiotic. Just for practice, I did an experiment to measure its effect. I varied the dosage of tetracycline—the number of pills per day—and counted the number of pimples on my face each morning. First I compared six pills per day (a high dose) and four pills per day (the prescribed dose). Somewhat to my surprise, they produced the same number of pimples. I tried other dosages. Eventually I tried zero pills per day. To my shock, zero pills per day produced the same number of pimples as four or six pills per day. The conclusion was unavoidable: the drug had no effect. (Many years later, research articles about antibiotic-resistant acne began to appear.) Tetracycline is a prescription drug; it’s not completely safe. I’d been taking it for months.
My dermatologist had also prescribed benzoyl peroxide, which comes in a cream. When my self-experimentation started, I believed that tetracycline was powerful and benzoyl peroxide weak, so I rarely used the cream. One day I ran low on tetracycline. Better use the cream, I thought. For the first time, I used the cream regularly. Again I was shocked: it worked well. Two days after I started using it, the number of pimples clearly went down. When I stopped the cream, two days later the number of pimples rose. When I restarted the cream, the number of pimples went down again.
My data left no doubt that (a) tetracycline didn’t work and (b) benzoyl peroxide did work—the opposite of my original beliefs. My dermatologist thought both worked. He’d seen hundreds of acne patients and had probably read hundreds of articles about acne. Yet in a few months I’d learned something important he didn’t know.
This wasn’t the usual line about self-experimentation. Read any book about it, such as Lawrence Altman’s Who Goes First? The Story of Self-Experimentation in Medicine, and you will come away thinking that self-experimentation is done by selfless doctors to test new and dangerous treatments. My experience was different. I wasn’t a doctor. I wasn’t trying to help someone else. I didn’t test a dangerous new treatment. Unlike the better-known sort of self-experimentation, which usually confirms what the experimenter believes, my self-experiments had shown I was wrong.
From my acne research I learned that self-experimentation can be used by non-experts to (a) see if the experts are right and (b) learn something they don’t know. I hadn’t realized such things were possible. The next problem I tried to solve this way was early awakening. For years, starting in my twenties, I woke up early in the morning, such as 4 a.m., still tired but unable to go back to sleep. Only a few dreary hours later would I be able to fall back asleep. This happened about half of all mornings. It showed no sign of going away. I didn’t want to take a pill for the rest of my life—not that there are any good pills for this—so I didn’t bother seeing a doctor. The only hope for a good solution, as far as I could tell, was self-experimentation.
So I did two things:
- I recorded a few details about my sleep. The main one was whether I fell back asleep after getting up. How often this happened was my measure of the severity of the problem. In the beginning, I couldn’t fall back asleep about half of all mornings.
- I tested possible solutions.
The first thing I tried was aerobic exercise. It didn’t help. Early awakening was just as common after a day with exercise as after a day without exercise. I tried eating cheese in the evening. It didn’t help. I tried several more possible remedies.
None helped. After several years, I ran out of things to try. All my ideas about what might help had proved wrong.
Yet I managed to make progress. For unrelated reasons, I changed my breakfast from oatmeal to fruit. A few days later, I started waking up too early every morning instead of half the time. The problem was now much worse. This had never happened before. I recorded the breakfast change on the same piece of paper I used to keep track of my sleep, so the correlation was easy to see. To make sure the correlation reflected causality, I went back and forth between fruit and oatmeal. The results showed it was cause and effect. Fruit for breakfast caused more early awakening than oatmeal for breakfast. After ten years when nothing I’d done had made a difference, this was a big step forward. I eventually figured out that any breakfast made early awakening more likely. A long experiment confirmed this. The best breakfast was no breakfast.
I was less surprised than you might think. I knew that in a wide range of animals, including rats, a laboratory result called anticipatory activity is well established. If you feed a rat every day at the same time, it will become active about three hours earlier. If you feed it at noon, it will become active about 9 a.m. I had been eating breakfast at about 7 a.m. and waking up about 4 a.m. I had essentially found that humans were like other animals in this regard.
Not eating breakfast reduced early awakening but didn’t eliminate it. In the following years, self-experimentation taught me more about what caused it. By accident, I found that standing helped. If I stood more than eight hours in a day, I slept better that night. That wasn’t practical—after trying to stand that much for several years, I gave up—but the realization helped me make another accidental discovery 10 years later: standing on one leg to exhaustion helps. If I do this four times (left leg twice, right leg twice) during a day, even in the morning, I sleep much better that night. More recently, I’ve found that animal fat makes me sleep better.
Both effects are dose-dependent. I can get great sleep if I stand enough and great sleep if I eat enough animal fat.
How much animal fat is “enough”? I’ve just started trying to figure this out using pig fat, which I consume in a cut called pork belly (the part of the pig used for bacon). I found that 150 grams of pork belly had a little effect; 250 grams of pork belly had a much clearer effect. The effect seems to get larger with more pork belly (e.g., 350 grams). Because pork belly may be more than 90% fat by calories (there is great variation from one piece to the next), it’s a lot of calories of fat to get the maximum possible effect. I need to burn a lot of calories per day to make that many calories easy to eat, but it’s in some respects more convenient than standing on one foot.
Acne and sleep were my first self-experimental topics. Later I studied mood, weight control, and the effects of omega-3 on brain function. I learned that self-experimentation has three uses:
- To test ideas. I tested the idea that tetracycline helps acne. I tested ideas about how to sleep better. And I’ve tested ideas derived from surprises. A few years ago, while trying to put on my shoes standing up, I realized my balance was much better than usual. I’d been putting on my shoes standing up for more than a year; that morning it was much easier than usual. The previous evening I’d swallowed six flaxseed-oil capsules. I did self-experiments to test the idea that flaxseed oil improves balance. (It did.)
- To generate new ideas. By its nature, self-experimentation involves making sharp changes in your life: you don’t do X for several weeks, then you do X for several weeks. This, plus the fact that we monitor ourselves in a hundred ways, makes it easy for self-experimentation to reveal unexpected side effects. This has happened to me five times. Moreover, daily measurements—of acne, sleep, or anything else—supply a baseline that makes it even easier to see unexpected changes.
- To develop ideas. That is, to determine the best way to use a discovery and to learn about the underlying mechanism. After I found that flaxseed oil improved balance, I used self-experimentation to figure out the best dose (three to four tablespoons per day).
One complaint about self-experimentation is that you’re not “blind.” Maybe the treatment works because you expect it to work. A placebo effect. I have never seen a case where this appeared to have happened. When treatment 10 helps after treatments 1 through 9 have failed to help (my usual experience), it’s unlikely to be a placebo effect. Accidental discoveries cannot be placebo effects.
My experience has shown that improve-your-life self-experimentation is remarkably powerful. I wasn’t an expert in anything I studied—I’m not a sleep expert, for example—but I repeatedly found useful cause-and-effect relationships (breakfast causes early awakening, flaxseed oil improves balance, etc.) that the experts had missed. This isn’t supposed to happen, of course, but it made a lot of sense. My self-experimentation had three big advantages over conventional research done by experts:
- More power. Self-experiments are far better at determining causality (does X cause Y?) than conventional experiments. Obviously they’re much faster and cheaper. If I have an idea about how to sleep better, I can test it on myself in a few weeks for free. Conventional sleep experiments take a year or more (getting funding takes time) and cost thousands of dollars. A less obvious advantage of self-experimentation is that more wisdom is acquired. We learn from our mistakes. Fast self-experimentation means you make more mistakes. One lesson I learned stands out: Always do the minimum—the simplest, easiest experiment that will make progress. Few professional scientists seem to know this. Finally, as I mentioned earlier, self-experimentation is much more sensitive to unexpected side effects.
- Stone Age–like treatments are easy to test. I repeatedly found that simple environmental changes, such as avoiding breakfast and standing more, had big and surprising benefits. In each case, the change I’d made resembled a return to Stone Age life, when no one ate breakfast and everyone stood a lot. There are plenty of reasons to think that many common health problems, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and cancer, are caused by differences between modern life and Stone Age life. Modern life and Stone Age life differ in many ways, of course; the fraction of differences that influence our health is probably low. If so, to find aspects of Stone Age life that matter, you have to do many tests. Self-experiments, fast and cheap, can do this; conventional experiments, slow and expensive, cannot. In addition, conventional research is slanted toward treatments that can make money for someone. Because conventional research is expensive, funding is needed. Drug companies will fund research about drugs, so lots of conventional research involves drugs. Elements of Stone Age life (such as no breakfast) are cheap and widely available. No company will fund research about their effectiveness.
- Better motivation. I studied my sleep for 10 years before making clear progress. That sort of persistence never happens in conventional health research. The reason is a difference in motivation. Part of the difference is how much the researcher cares about finding solutions. When you study your own problem (e.g., acne), you care more about finding a solution than others are likely to care. Acne researchers rarely have acne. And part of the motivation difference is the importance of goals other than solving the problem. When I studied my sleep, my only goal was to sleep better. Professional scientists have other goals, which are enormously constraining.
One set of prison bars involves employment and research funding. To keep their jobs (e.g., get tenure, get promoted, get jobs for their students, and get grants), professional scientists must publish several research papers per year. Research that can’t provide this is undoable. Another set of prison bars involves status. Professional scientists derive most of their status from their job. When they have a choice, they try to enhance or protect their status. Some sorts of research have more status than others. Large grants have more status than small grants, so professional scientists prefer expensive research to cheap research. High-tech has more status than low-tech, so they prefer high-tech. As Thorstein Veblen emphasized in The Theory of the Leisure Class (1899), useless research has higher status than useful research. Doing useless work, Veblen said, shows that you are higher-status than those who must do useful work. So researchers prefer useless research, thus the term “ivory tower.” Fear of loss of job, grant, or status also makes it hard for professional scientists to propose radical new ideas. Self-experimenters, trying to solve their own problem on their own time, are not trapped like this.
Acne illustrates the problem. The dermatological party line is that diet doesn’t cause acne. According to a website of the American Academy of Dermatology, “extensive scientific studies” show it’s a “myth” that “acne is caused by diet.” According to “guidelines for care” for dermatologists published in 2007, “dietary restriction (either specific foods or food classes) has not been demonstrated to be of benefit in the treatment of acne.” In fact, there is overwhelming evidence linking diet and acne. Starting in the 1970s, a Connecticut doctor named William Danby collected evidence connecting dairy consumption and acne; it is telling that Danby wasn’t a professional scientist. When his patients gave up dairy, it often helped. In 2002, six scientists (none a dermatologist) published a paper with the Weston Price–like conclusion that two isolated groups of people (Kitava Islanders and Ache hunter-gatherers) had no acne at all. They had examined more than 1,000 subjects over the age of 10 and found no acne. When people in these groups left their communities and ate differently, they did get acne. These observations suggest that a lot of acne—maybe all of it—can be cured and prevented by diet.
Why is the official line so wrong? Because the painstaking research needed to show the many ways diet causes acne is the sort of research that professional researchers can’t do and don’t want to do. They can’t do it because the research would be hard to fund (no one makes money when patients avoid dairy) and because the trial and error required would take too long per publication. They don’t want to do it because it would be low-tech, low-cost, and very useful—and therefore low-status. While research doctors in other specialties study high-tech expensive treatments, they would be doing low-cost studies of what happens when you avoid certain foods. Humiliating. Colleagues in other specialties might make fun of them. To justify their avoidance of embarrassment, the whole profession tells the rest of us, based on “extensive scientific studies,” that black is white. Self-experimentation allows acne sufferers to ignore the strange claims of dermatologists, not to mention their dangerous drugs (such as Accutane). Persons with acne can simply change their diets until they figure out what foods cause the problem.
Gregor Mendel was a monk. He was under no pressure to publish; he could say whatever he wanted about horticulture without fear for his job. Charles Darwin was wealthy. He had no job to lose. He could write On the Origin of Species very slowly. Alfred Wegener, who proposed continental drift, was a meteorologist. Geology was a hobby of his. Because they had total freedom and plenty of time, and professional biologists and geologists did not (just as now), Mendel, Darwin, and Wegener were able to use the accumulated knowledge of their time better than the professionals. The accumulated knowledge of our time is more accessible than ever before. Self-experimenters, with total freedom, plenty of time, and easy access to empirical tests, are in a great position to take advantage of it.
The above is an excerpt from the new book The 4-Hour Body
###
Tools and Tricks
Seth Roberts, “Self-Experimentation as a Source of New Ideas: Ten Examples Involving Sleep, Mood, Health, and Weight,” Behavioral and Brain Science 27 (2004): 227–88 (www.fourhourbody.com/new-ideas) This 61-page document about self-experimentation provides an overview of some of Seth’s findings, including actionable sleep examples.
The Quantified Self (www.quantifiedself.com) Curated by Wired cofounding editor Kevin Kelly and Gary Wolf, a managing editor of Wired, this is the perfect home for all self-experimenters. The resources section alone is worth a trip to this site, which provides the most comprehensive list of data-tracking tools and services on the web (www.fourhourbody.com/quantified).
Alexandra Carmichael, “How to Run a Successful Self-Experiment” (www.fourhourbody.com/self-experiment) Most people have never systematically done a self-experiment. And yet, it’s one of the easiest methods for discovering what variables are affecting your well-being. This article shows you the five principles that will help you get started in running successful self-experiments. Bonus: an 11-minute video from Seth Roberts, discussing experiment design.
CureTogether (www.curetogether.com) CureTogether, which won the Mayo Clinic iSpot Competition for Ideas That Will Transform Healthcare (2009), helps people anonymously track and compare health data to better understand their bodies and make more informed treatment decisions. Think you’re alone with a condition? Chances are you’ll find dozens of others with the same problem on CureTogether.
Daytum (www.daytum.com) Conceived by Ryan Case and Nicholas Felton, Daytum is an elegant and intuitive service for examining and visualizing your everyday habits and routines.
Data Logger (http://apps.pachube.com/datalogger) Data Logger for iPhone enables you to store and graph any data of your choosing along with a time-stamp and location. It can be used for anything, whether food-related, animal sightings, or temperature sensor readings around your neighborhood. If you can think of it, it can be recorded and tracked.
Resources
- [How Seth Roberts’ self-experimentation began]. Roberts, Seth. Surprises from self-experimentation: Sleep, mood, and weight. Chance. 2001; 4(2):7-18. UC Berkeley: Available from: http://escholarship.org/uc/item/5bv8c7p3
- [The first of many papers to show antibiotic-resistant acne was a significant problem]. Eady EA, Cove JH, Blake J, Holland KT, Cunliffe WJ. Recalcitrant acne vulgaris. Clinical, biochemical and microbiological investigation of patients not responding to antibiotic treatment. Br J Dermatol. 1988; 118:415-23.
- Roberts, Seth. Self-experimentation as a source of new ideas: Ten examples about sleep, mood, health, and weight. Behavioral and Brain Sciences. 2004; 27(2), 227-288. UC Berkeley: Available from http://repositories.cdlib.org/postprints/117/
- Boulos Z, Rosenwasser AM, Terman M. Feeding schedules and the circadian organization of behavior in the rat. Behav Brain Res. 1980; 1:39–65.
- Seth Roberts’ blog: http://blog.sethroberts.net.
- Acne myths: http://www.skincarephysicians.com/acnenet/myths.html on 2009-09-13.
- Guidelines of care: http://www.aad.org/research/_doc/ClinicalResearch_Acne%20Vulgaris.pdf on 2009-09-17.
- Danby: http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/magazine/articles/2007/12/16/a_clear_connection/ on 2009-09-17.
- No acne among two isolated groups: Cordain L, Lindeberg S, Hurtado M, Hill K, Eaton SB, Brand-Miller J. Acne vulgaris: a disease of Western civilization. Arch Dermatol. 2002; 138:1584-90.
- Dangers of Accutane: http://www.accutane-side-effects.net/ on 2009-09-13.
- Wegener: http://www.pangaea.org/wegener.htm on 2009-09-17.
Posted on December 18th, 2010
- Subscribe and get the latest
- Save this page
- Stumble It
- Email to a Friend
- Print it
- Leave a comment
Comment Rules: Remember what Fonzie was like? Cool. That's how we're gonna be -- cool. Critical is fine, but if you're rude, we'll delete your stuff. Please use your PERSONAL name or initials and not your business name and do not put your website in the comment text, as both come off like spam. Have fun and thanks for adding to the conversation! (Thanks to Brian Oberkirch for the inspiration)
462 Responses to “The Value of Self-Experimentation [Plus: Extreme Videos - Do Not Try This At Home]”
December 18th, 2010
12:15 am
You are crazy!
You should have chronicled everything on video :-P
December 18th, 2010
12:16 am
As a research engineer, I can only applaud your courage! It all looks pretty intense to me! ^^
I’m still waiting for the book from Amazon, but I’ll share info (samples posted on this blog etc) with friends and family.
All the best Tim!
February 20th, 2011
6:07 pm
I am new to this diet, and have a question. Rule 4 states eat no fruit, does this include tomatoes and bell peppers? Thanks-
December 18th, 2010
12:23 am
Question about a 4HB Ab exercise: For the cat vomit exercise, how many times can I do it in a day? Also, how many hours after eating is required before doing it?
Thanks!
P.S. I love the Sleep hack section BTW! I’m doing the “Siesta” and I’m enjoying the extra 1hr and 40mins!
I’ll be moving to Everyman soon. I’m excited!
December 18th, 2010
12:27 am
I got so much value out of your books/blog/videos
I’ll gladly help :)
December 18th, 2010
12:27 am
In the words of Peter Griffin: Freakin’ aweshome!
I’ve been insomniac since getting your book despite the great section on sleep. ;-)
I also ordered one for my paw as he was a physicist back in the Soviet Union and seemed to dig Pavel Tsatsouline’s books (who I discovered through this blog) for their rigor. I think he’ll enjoy your work too.
The writing in the 4HB had me cracking up! To wit, Mr. Wash-Your-Hands sparked a long bout of laughter.
I’ve been tracking all sorts of data ( food, sleep, sex, sunlight, etc – you know the OCDeal ) and I feel like the information in your book is helping me connect a lot of disparate pieces that I didn’t really know what to make of.
Going for a DEXA scan next week (I have lower back issues – I suspect left/right balance related).
I’m promoting this book to everyone I know: BJJ peeps, work and net peeps, family. You deserve #1 brother.
I could go on but I’ll keep it 80/20.
Thanks for your non-stop life affirming drive, Tim.
Good Vibes
Vic Dorfman
December 18th, 2010
12:39 am
25 Pills? You have GOT to be close to your second Guinness Record.
December 18th, 2010
12:45 am
The Australian Dr. Barry Marshal got a nobel peace prize through self-experimentation to cure ulcurs.
I wonder what’s in store for the four hour body?
December 18th, 2010
4:02 am
He didn’t get a Nobel PEACE prize (only get that for doing peace…) but rather a Nobel PRIZE for physiology :-)
December 18th, 2010
12:52 am
where are the extra chapters on the website for the new book? i can’t figure out where to go to get the bonus chapters…
December 18th, 2010
12:55 am
Tim (or whoever knows the answer)-
I am missing where the message boards/bonus content on the 4 hour body site is. Is it not up yet, or am I just missing a page on the website when I look (kindle edition just says to go to the website)?
Ahh, the idea of just 3 or 4 pills at a time makes me gag (vegetarian vitamins are the worst, ugh). 25? Never gonna happen here :)
December 18th, 2010
1:06 am
Hi Jenn,
This is the message board :)
The bonus content is also coming soon!
Best,
Tim
December 20th, 2010
7:05 am
There has to be a technique to swallowing that many pills. Is it in the book? If not how about a short blog post Tim? I am sure I am not the only one that has a hard time with pills.
December 18th, 2010
12:57 am
Tim, you are a fanatic, in the very best sense of that word. I love it & can’t wait to read the new book. I’m spreading the word because you rock! ;)
December 18th, 2010
1:00 am
Looks like the Descriptores Aromaticos poster from Mendoza in the background. I have same one in my bathroom and it always reminds me of all the great memories from my Argentina wine tour adventures. Cheers.
December 18th, 2010
1:04 am
extreme stuff man
December 18th, 2010
1:10 am
The thigh video was borderline hard to watch! I admire your ability to endure pain for the greater good, and having the guts to go head-to-head with Guinness.
December 18th, 2010
1:05 am
Got 4HB in the mail today. Freakin Awesome. Shared it with a friend and he said he wants it real bad so I sent him this post and the trailer.
+1
December 18th, 2010
1:10 am
Bravo Tim!
I am sure many people are skeptical that the King of Life-Hacking can also be the King of Body-Hacking, but I must say that after 50 pages into this book, I have to give accolades where they are due!
When you announced the topic of this new book, I was a bit disappointed since I was anxiously waiting to devour more Life-Hacking tips.
However, our body is our life and our life is our body. They are one in the same.
To get the most out of Life-Hacking, one must be in tune with their physical health. After reading 4-Hour Work Week and taking a dip in the pool of The 4-Hour Body, I just can’t imagine what’s next.
I say bring it on Tim! I wait in anticipation already :)
December 18th, 2010
1:13 am
I have become quite the self-experimenter. My father would be proud (but that is for a different book). That is part of why I have been so enthused about this book even with the attack of the very crowd I would think could get behind it.
Then again, all a part of daily suicide I suppose. ;P
December 18th, 2010
1:13 am
Oh, and email list contacted as well as personal people(s).
December 18th, 2010
1:30 am
Aaaaand now we know what Tim’s legs look like when he’s not prepping for a set of “after” shots. :D
December 18th, 2010
1:41 am
Ok so.. how do we cure acne again?
December 18th, 2010
1:58 am
Ahoy, I’d buy the book but Amazon doesn’t have a “look inside” option! :( I’m sure the book is exciting but it kinda feels like movies that don’t let the critics view them pre-release…I base a lot of my purchase of printed material on taking a quick look inside – who goes to a physical bookstore and doesn’t even open books?
December 18th, 2010
12:06 pm
Hi Christopher,
I’ll pass this on! I have no idea why that isn’t an option — silly Amazon page.
Thanks!
Tim
December 19th, 2010
2:07 pm
I actually found one of my favorite book series by choosing it based on the cover.
I was acutely tired of people saying “Don’t judge a book by it’s cover.”
It doesn’t work often, but it was really entertaining that time, haha.
December 20th, 2010
7:25 am
Chris, I gave a lengthy review of Tim’s book but do not want to post a link here. The review is better than Amazon’s look inside :) ha ha
This book has been TOUGH to put down. I have devoured sections on unconventional training methods for sprinters, long distance / endurance runners, improving mobility / flexibility / reducing low back pain, improving the bench press in a “freakish” way in 15 days, optimal ways to train for strength without leaving you crippled for days after each workout as well as nutrition tips for leaning up.
Tim blew me away with this book and I believe that if any1 is at all serious about fitness, nutrition or human performance at any level this book is a steal.
It’s been a LOOOONG time that a book hit the retail market and has been this jam packed powerful.
This kinda stuff usually exists in small counter cultures and does NOT make it’s way to the retail book stores.
My final comment: Get IT!!!
– Z –
December 20th, 2010
10:58 am
Thanks so much, Zach!
December 18th, 2010
2:24 am
My GF certainly didn’t complain about the sex section!
December 18th, 2010
3:00 am
25 pills at once is a damn fine accomplishment, and here I thought I was a semi awesome putting down 5 fish oil pills at once.
Tim,
My parents love your new book! Even though I doubted they would read it, I bought them each a copy. Mum and Dad Skyped me to tell me their experience with some of the topics so far. They reckon they’ve already started losing 20lbs of fat in 30 days without trying.
Haha, Your spanning the generations mate.
December 18th, 2010
3:27 am
Tim, I have the book (for those that don’t have it yet — GET IT — I’m 5 days into the fatloss diet and exactly 6lbs lighter) and I skimmed this chapter but only read it thoroughly once I saw it on your blog.
As a former Neuroscience major, I’d love your opinion: my interest is in enhancing cognition and I’m set for entering college/university again next year to study Neuroscience as a second degree. A part of me is thinking about forgoing the cost and hassle of a structured degree course and blazing my own course in self-experiments (e.g. testing nootropics and recording brainwaves via cheap eeg devices), with all the info I’ve gained from your two books, 4HWW and 4HB, the “how” is clear. Dissecting rats and experimenting on monkeys doesn’t sit well with me and I’m mad about enhancing cognition just you are about physical performance. What’s your take?
December 18th, 2010
3:28 am
just as you are*
December 18th, 2010
3:49 am
Tim,
Between the date described in the new book and now this, I’m thinking I may know why you’re single. Lol. It’s all good though man. Good job and interesting read. I’m wishing I were more OCD.
December 18th, 2010
3:50 am
Yuuuuuck! Thank you Tim for doing this so that I don’t have to :D
Best regards
Daniel
December 18th, 2010
3:51 am
The book IS awesome! Ordered 3 copies.
December 18th, 2010
3:58 am
seriously,
make a movie, and name it story of a madman: selfexperimentation 2.0 or something like that, with all the stuff in the book, it would be a good watch
December 18th, 2010
12:45 pm
“interesting” like jackass the movie… but with a more productive purpose? haha
December 18th, 2010
4:36 am
Okay, another book ordered…thanks for todays post…
December 18th, 2010
5:30 am
Going to try the standing on one leg thing… more appealing than ice baths!
December 18th, 2010
5:52 am
Hi Tim
Copy of your book is on it’s way to me. Can’t wait to read it.
Just wondered, do you cover any hacks for effective mind preparation etc to aid in studying for exams and retaining info and accessing it when required?
Thanks
Matt
December 18th, 2010
5:53 am
Tim, I just received my copy of the Four-Hour Body about two days ago. I preordered on Amazon and I just want to thank you for a tremendous book and for being a human guinea pig. This book, in two days, already has shown me revolutionary changes. Underscore revolutionary. I also find myself wanting to digest the whole book in one setting. It is just so fascinating. As my daughter would say “you are so legit”.
December 18th, 2010
6:18 am
Received my 3 copies from Amazon a couple days ago. First ice bath yesterday. Easier than I thought. Getting past the first 45 seconds was the toughest. After that I didn’t feel a thing. I’m energized by your example and curiosity about testing then blowing up the status quo. Looking for my muse now as well. Thanks for sharing your talents. Look forward to your next project.
December 18th, 2010
6:29 am
Hey Tim,
Ader sells a 92 kg kettlebell. Just sayin’. ;-)
December 18th, 2010
12:04 pm
Haha… I’ll let you tackle that first! Must look like a ocean buoy.
December 18th, 2010
6:32 am
Dear Tim
Great article. The link to the Danby article is broken, can’t access it.
December 18th, 2010
11:12 am
I’ll get on it!
December 18th, 2010
6:35 am
You are one insane guinea pig Tim.
Can we get that photo of your training log that you mentioned on livestream?
December 18th, 2010
6:41 am
Tim,
I was going to say you’re crazy, but to be honest, I’m just grateful you did these things to help give me an upper hand in life. Thank you!
I’m going to be traveling to SF from Ottawa the weekend of January 17th. I hope I bump into you on the street just so I can shake your hand.
Jason
December 18th, 2010
6:50 am
Hey Tim!
Can you give a summary of how to do self experimentation? I want to do a bit of it doing my workout routines.
I have been working out for a while and most of the progress I ever made was small, I have quit working out a few times in the past because it got frustrating, wanna try something new, I ordered your new book.
-Oleg
December 18th, 2010
7:12 am
Though I completely agree with self experimentation and questioning conventional wisdom DEAR GOD THAT NEEDLE IS HUGE!!!
December 18th, 2010
7:34 am
Very interesting article. I agree with your points (mostly), but you skipped the reason for self-experimentation that seems most obvious to me. Studies can only show trends — not the individual data points that create those trends. So if, for example, exercise X is found to reduce back pain in 80% of test subjects, are you within that 80% or are you in the other 20%? The only way to find out is to experiment.
December 18th, 2010
7:38 am
Tim, I’m a huge fan of yours, and consume all your blog posts and written content voraciously, but i’m getting a little disillusioned.
Why? Well, the 4 Hour Body book may well be going brilliantly in the US, but your cousins over the water here in the UK can’t get a copy yet. Seriously, you need to talk to your publisher – 3rd Feb 2011 release date in the UK? Really? They can’t do better than that? I must say that delaying the release of content to non-US readers is not a very positive message to spread.
I’ll keep reading your posts and recommending you to my friends and colleagues, but praise for the 4 Hour Body will have to wait until February, I’m afraid. Sorry.
December 18th, 2010
8:51 am
You can get a copy in the UK. right now. The Book Depository via Amazon.co.uk or via their own site is already selling the US version here in the UK.
December 18th, 2010
7:46 am
Yoooo WTF ( 2nd video) I can’t see this!
That said, thanks for doing it.
Got the book in all available formats!
Tomorrow is the “starting gun”
for becoming Angelina Jolie.
I’m curious to see how it’ll turn out.
On a different note: I recently read Dan Ariely’s “review” on a book: The Procrastination Equation by Dr. Piers Steel – an internationally recognized expert on human motivation and the foremost authority on why people put things off.
Being a mega Procrastinator and your true fan I have a request: will you have him give us, some tough love, guest post on the topic???
Tim, thanks for everything your doing for the betterment of human kind, you are my God (I’m an atheist).
December 18th, 2010
8:01 am
Self-experimentation carries another important advantage if your goal is to find something that works for you rather than everyone else–you eliminate all the secondary variables of gender, age, genetics, etc. that cause responses to vary from one person to another. I’d also say it’s less crucial to distinguish placebo effects and such; if it works, it works. If you get a good night’s sleep, what does it matter whether the explanation is physiological or mental?
December 18th, 2010
8:32 am
I really have to disagree about acne being affected by consumption of dairy products. I’m lactose intolerant and I have acne. Though I now avoid dairy products, I still get the same number of breakouts as I did when I first broke out.
I did understand the real message here, though. You’re discussing the value in being unconventional. Thank goodness someone’s doing it :)
December 18th, 2010
11:11 am
Thanks, CL. I think the real test (which I’m not suggested, as you’re lactose intolerant) would be to re-introduce dairy and see if your outbreaks increased. In self-experimentation, it’s hard to prove a variable has no impact if it’s excluded at all times. Also important: the response to dairy, as you’ve seen, can change with age.
December 18th, 2010
1:40 pm
CL, you also have to realize that there can be multiple causes for a single effect. This is like someone saying that they know eating Big Macs doesn’t cause weight gain, because they only eat Whoppers, and they have gained weight!
There can be multiple offending foods linked to acne, and factors outside of diet too.
December 18th, 2010
6:20 pm
Great analogy. Another contributing factor is often poor sleep.
December 30th, 2010
11:19 pm
As a woman, I can say that hormones play a huge factor in acne breakouts for me. I also know a lot of other women who experience the same thing as well.
Suggestion: Toothpaste. No seriously, if you’ve got a blemish, I’ve found that toothpaste will clear your skin up quicker than anything with a $100 price tag. (Provided that it’s a normal breakout that is…minty freshness has nothing on the acne some people get.)
December 18th, 2010
8:35 am
Great excerpt Tim, bought your book this week
And am looking forwar to reading it.
I am a heath nerd, blogger, and chronic self experimenter.
And I beat Stage 3 Colon Cancer without chemotherapy.
Despite denial by the medical and pharmaceutical establishmets, most diseases and chronic conditions are caused by diet.
As referenced above in the dairy and acne connection example, there is no incentive (profit) for them to test natural and dietary cures.
And there never will be.
December 20th, 2010
8:14 am
Anyone that has gone toe to toe with cancer and is still standing is unequivocally, The Man. Would really love to hear more about how you went about doing it. I only wish stuff like this was more accessible 8-10 yrs back. It may have really helped my aunt.
December 24th, 2010
8:33 am
Just bought the 4 hr book and started. So far so good. What seems to be missing is a total list of good (except for binge day) and bad foods. For instance is cheese ok. I know you believe the less diversity the better, but some of us would like to expand the menu a little while staying true to the plan. Thank you
December 25th, 2010
9:46 am
Seconded. That’s exactly what I’m thinking.
December 25th, 2010
9:01 pm
wow you are amazing….Congrats on grabbing hold of your destiny!
December 18th, 2010
8:38 am
I encourage all my clients to experiment a bit. And I personally experiment with every single herb I use. I think it’s the only way to truly understand what it is you’re asking other people to do.
For example, when I picked up amoebas and giardia in Mexico City last month. I experimented with my own formulas, and realised after a month that they were so DISGUSTING that if I couldn’t get them down, nobody else would be able to get them down either, and so I switched to pills. Without knowing that, I’d be handing out teas to people with giardia and wondering why they weren’t getting better.
And anyway, so many people prescribe (even regular people) anecdotal evidence as though, just because somebody else said it it MUST be true. I think it’s better to know for yourself before you go around telling people about it. If anything, for the sake of credibility.
December 18th, 2010
8:40 am
I would love to read it, but despite pre-ordering months ago, Amazon says my order won’t arrive until December 23rd. *grumble!*
December 18th, 2010
8:45 am
Tim – I see that you have done an excellent job monitoring and analyzing data from your external environment. Are you recording internal variables as well? For example, anxiety from anticipation of a upcoming event, emotions stirred from meeting a new person or seeing an old friend, excitement from a huge accomplishment that day, etc…
Looking forward to reading the new book – Thanks.
December 18th, 2010
8:58 am
Tim
I just got my preorder from Chapters in Canada!!! They got it to me on the 15 of December. All I can say is WOW!!!!! The first thing I tried was the gettign the six pack ab exercise. I was proctoring a university exam and decided to try it. I looked at the time clock on the wall. Then felt the deep muscle that hurts when we laugh too much. One deep breath and held that muscle for 80 seconds. I went to bed later on that night. The next morning I got and looked in the mirro. I saw the body I had as a man in my 20′s. I did a happy dance for being so excited.
The 4HB works right away. My first goal using the 4HB in the new year is to get and maintain this NEW look through 2011.
Thanks again Tim your awsome and so helpful.
Merry Xmas to you, your family friends and staff…
December 18th, 2010
9:02 am
Tim,
Got the 4HB…you are a nut! You are going to have to lay off what you do with your “Poo” if you want to find a woman! I am going to use your suggestions and try to lose 10 lbs in the next month.
Love the 4hww ….I have incorporated many of the suggestions, like Evernote, Highrise etc, in my business and personal life! Keep up the good work and experimentation so we don’t have to!
Brent
December 18th, 2010
9:05 am
Impressive, didn’t think anyone could be close to my par of swallowing # of pills. I, myself swallowing 38 pills daily by using one cup of water. It was hard at first but I was doing this for 5 years.
December 18th, 2010
9:17 am
Had a similar experience to the author of the piece concerning acne. None of the doctor’s pills/creams seemed to work, but changes in diet did help. I would test a week or two without eating sugary foods, etc, then eat them and what do you know, more acne.
Never really considered what I was doing as self-experimentation, but now I realize it was. It really is a useful thing to do.
December 18th, 2010
9:19 am
Mission for today: Buy the book
December 18th, 2010
9:23 am
Tim,
I just posted my review, but had a couple of questions.
In the slow-carb diet chapters you say to avoid dairy. But then you say to cook with butter or ghee. When you recommend cottage cheese you do specify that it doesn’t seem to have the same problem as other dairy, but never mentioned that when recommending the butter/ghee. You also don’t mention cheese at all. What’s the story there?
TIM: It’s about avoiding the lactose to the greatest extent possible. Ghee (clarified butter) and cottage cheese contain fewer grams per serving that milk, for example, and do less damage to bodyfat.
Second, you recommend no fruits, Are there any vegetables that should also be avoided? I’m thinking specifically about carrots, which are often added to tomato sauce as a sweetener instead of sugar.
TIM: Carrots in moderation are fine.
My wife and I will be starting the diet after the holidays, and we’re trying to put together our list of regular meals, so the notes on butter, cheese, and prohibited vegetables would be really timely.
December 18th, 2010
11:08 am
See my notes in your comment!
January 9th, 2011
7:11 am
Hi Tim,
I just orered your book and am looking forwar to reading it. What are your thoughts on raw dairy? I have done a lot of reasearch and have found that a lot of the problems associated with dairy stem from pasturized/homoginized milk. People who are lactode intollerant are able to consume raw milk and also I have read tha people actualy looose weight drinkin raw milk. thx
December 18th, 2010
12:15 pm
Ghee doesn’t contain any lactose because it’s 100% fat… or at least that’s the idea behind clarifying butter…
December 18th, 2010
6:24 pm
Exactly correct. Delicious stuff.
December 19th, 2010
7:20 pm
Where I live, it is easily to find in Chinese/Asian shops as it is widely used in Indian cooking.
December 18th, 2010
9:29 am
Well, today you got me. I’ve been following you since your last book, and your marketing for this one is the bomb. It’s been a great campaign, and I’m going to get the book now.
December 18th, 2010
9:36 am
What dairy is allowed? Is it just milk that is banned, or all dairy except cottage cheese? I’ve lost 5 pounds this week, thanks to the book.
December 18th, 2010
11:06 am
AC,
Just follow the guidelines in the book! Avoiding all dairy 6 days a week (except cheat day) is the best policy.
Tim
December 18th, 2010
10:08 am
Just ordered the book from Amazon last night. Thank you for the constant flow of valuable information and inspiration. Keep up the awesome work, and above all, ??????????!
December 18th, 2010
10:21 am
Crap that’s a big needle!
December 18th, 2010
10:28 am
Tim –
Three years ago my dad contracted the deadliest of all cancers – pancreatic cancer. The doctors where all in unanimity when they gave him 3-6 months. To a man, including second and third opinions, oncologists, radiologist, and surgeons, all agreed – he only had a few months left.
Their combined experience, vast research, advanced education, and decades experimentation and statistical analysis, all brought them to the same conclusion – my dad’s days where numbered.
However in all their brilliance they all missed the most important thing … it was just one minor oversight, one small miscue in their judgment, one slight error of omission, and that was this …. “Statistics don’t apply to the individual”.
See, my dad was not a random sample, a case study, or a clinical trial …. he is a one-of-a-kind miracle and individual creation of the Almighty … just like everyone else.
Here is the point: Statistics matter en mass, but are irrelevant to individual.
Next time an authority figure (doctor) tells you that you have 1 year to live, or a 90% chance of this or that, remember this story, and ask them “how do you know?” Guess what … they don’t!
Tim – my dad says hi, and btw … he loves your book!!
December 18th, 2010
10:37 am
My copy should be here today! Can’t wait!
I enjoyed the excerpt you provided, but I have one critical thing to say about it. You had me all the way until you mentioned Charles Darwin. I understand the point you’re making. But his writings were/are theory. You can’t prove anything he wrote about. Yes, he had money and didn’t have to worry about someone pushing him in a certain direction, but he’s still not a good example overall because what he didn’t can’t be proven. What you are doing, and what the other examples do/have done, can be proven. You have results. The other examples you gave have results. Charles Darwin has no results. Just theory. Is anything you did for this book theory???
Despite that oversight, I’m still looking forward to getting my copy. And hopefully that’s the only critical thing I have about the book.
December 18th, 2010
10:41 am
Tim,
Very interesting stuff, can’t wait to get your book in my hand (off course it take way more to get it in Bosnia :), will international purchase make a count on achieving your goal? if yes, let me know and I’ll pass on the word around Balkans.
By the way, I’m a living proof of self-experimentation (actually someone else did that on his body and then I did the same to myself) … I was suffering from discuss hernia for almost a year and after a couple of MR scans, lot’s of pills and therapies every single doctor told me that the only cure is to go under the scalpel, what I didn’t like with that was the fact that this discal hernia can be repetitive (and didn’t felt like taking a back surgery every 2 years) … through a friend I got in touch with a chemist (in a small village in Kosovo) who had curred himself from discuss hernia through self-made natural herb tea, syrup, some cream for massage and a very strict diet and all of that for 6 month … his finding is that discuss hernia is caused by the increased presence of the Uric Acid in the human body (and all the reasons that doctors give you are actually bullshit … 6 months of going through that experiment now I’m back to my passions, basketball, speed-riding and etc … Thanks for sharing your findings and your efforts ….
Greetings from Sarajevo.
December 18th, 2010
10:53 am
In your book 4HB, you talk about having an early breakfast is good. In this article, you say it’s bad… I’m confused.
December 18th, 2010
11:02 am
Kevin, this is a guest post by Seth Roberts. I use high-protein breakfasts for fat loss.
Best,
Tim
December 18th, 2010
11:03 am
I have just gotten the 4 hour body on my Kindle… I can’t wait to read it!
December 18th, 2010
11:28 am
Tim!!!! P-LEEEEEASE…….
Das nächste Video in der Art bitte mit einer Warnung!!!?
You obviously had a local or Emla cream at the very least, but still….something like “gore rating” or so would have been nice….? nutty professor comes to my mind ;-) How does your mum deal with it when you do that stuff?!?
December 18th, 2010
11:28 am
Thanks Tim, I could not resist I had to make a video on your blog http://bit.ly/i4O1x4 the value of Self Experimentation. I really enjoy this.
December 18th, 2010
11:38 am
Great book. pre-ordered Kindle version and quickly realized i need the hard cover. – bought both! Anxious to start my post holidays slow carb diet.
December 18th, 2010
11:58 am
Tim, on page 117, loving it and spreading the word. A tiny thing, but I know you’re a detail guy and a linguist: two details on page 44: the Greek for “know thyself” is misspelled (final nu, not upsilon) and it should read Delphi, not Adelphi. Drinking coffee with cinnamon as I write this. Best of luck!
December 18th, 2010
6:28 pm
Thanks, Paul! I’ll get on this. Doh!
December 18th, 2010
12:02 pm
Ho Ho Holy crap that is a lot of pills! I was completely impressed withthat move until I saw you holding the camera while that person shoved that scalpel in your leg TWICE!!! You didn’t even make the frame jump! Impressive doesn’t cover it. Crazy is more in the ballpark.
Really though, thanks so much for all of the pain and agony you went through to make this book. It’s much less impressive to see 300 people go through small test trials than it is to see one guy, who doesn’t really need the money or noteriety, endure all of this stuff just so the rest of us can learn. If every teacher cared for their students like you do for all of us, we’d already be colonizing space. Or something along those lines. Maybe I shouldn’t have read Stranger In A Strange Land Last night. Put me in a very optimistic state of mind.
Happy Holidays!!
P.S. Received the signed books today. Thanks thrice for the easy holiday shopping this year!
December 18th, 2010
12:04 pm
Tim,
I received your book yesterday and couldn’t put it down. I love how you think outside the box and I hope you empower more people to take charge of their health and bodies. Don’t settle for feeling and looking OK. Life is about vibrant optimal health and fitness and about feeling fantastic about your body, appearance, sex-life and physical potential.
I too have been working to hack the human body for the past 13 years. I have made myself my primary test subject and have had amazing success reversing “permanent injuries” (spine, shoulder, ankles, neck), eliminating arthritis and tendonitis, growing 1 inch taller (ROLFING!) Perfecting posture and maintaining my high school weight of 108 pounds while eating whatever I want. I do half-ironman triathlons and am a performance salsa dancer and love movement in general. Creating fantastic health is THE most important way to optimize your life. Thanks for showing us what is possible if you get creative and take some ownership of your body.
I love that your preferred shoes are Vibram five fingers and Vivo Barefoots. As a trail runner and self proclaimed ergonomic-geek I have been experimenting with every shoe out there and these 2 are the shoes that I find to be the best. If you only own 2 shoes these are the ones. I even wear my Vibram five fingers with sundresses and I think I pull it off.
Final note, at first glance it appears that you do not mention Rolfing at all in the book. Rolfing is one of the most powerful therapies to reverse permanent injuries and significantly increase flexibility and range of motion. Check it out!
December 18th, 2010
6:25 pm
I’ll be spending more time exploring Rolfing soon! I’ve had some exposure, but I want to dig deeper, pun intended :)
December 19th, 2010
1:28 pm
I just have to agree about the Vibram Five Fingers, I even had mine with a full length ball gown :-) The only comment I got was very positive.
December 19th, 2010
3:06 pm
re: Rolfing. The next generations of this line of body thinking were Hellerwork and Soma. I think Soma is the most sophisticated.
December 18th, 2010
12:29 pm
Great you’re promoting self-experimentation, which will probably become one of the most transformative developments in health since germ theory, as we gain more technological tools to simplify it and lower the cost.
Any chance of adding http://www.patientslikeme.com to your recommendations? They seem as worthy of promotion in this post as curetogether. I have no vested interest in them, just think they deserve props too, as they are promoting the well-being of people with debilitating conditions, and meaningful treatments may well be identified through such websites.
I am waiting for my Kindle to arrive (two months!) and will buy your book then — I’m in Canada so an early purchase wouldn’t help your cause, but I hope you beat Guinness!
Cheers, thanks.
December 18th, 2010
6:24 pm
Thanks, Mike! Absolutely. I hope to talk more about PatientsLikeMe in the near future. They’ve replicated some ALS studies in an “open-source” clinical, and more and more discoveries will come this way. GREAT start-up.
Best,
Tim
December 18th, 2010
12:40 pm
Tips on swallowing pills? I’ve had trouble with this for the longest time and this inability is prohibitory for some of the things I want to do from your book.
Thanks!
December 19th, 2010
8:56 am
Hey Nathan,
I used to be just like Tim – hated taking pills, spew reflex, everything. I got comfortable with the process by putting a pill and water in my mouth at the same time, leaning my head back until the sensation of the pill disappeared (the pill floats in the water, so you don’t feel it anymore), and then swallow. It helps to make sure your body is relaxed – it’s easy to get all tense and not realize it, which makes it harder to relax your throat as you swallow.
I had worked myself up to 3 fish oil capsules (the big ones from Costco) at a time, until I saw Tim’s video – so yesterday I upped it to 4, then 5, then 7, and I just did 9 fish oil capsules – which was a total mouthful – all in one gulp.
Tim saves the day once again!
December 18th, 2010
12:42 pm
Hi,
Tim, I read your first book and it was really useful. One month after that, I quited my job and moved to Switzerland. Definitely 4HWW changed my life, thank you. But that’s not the topic.
I follow this blog for months, and until the release of your new book all posts had some interest, usually those related to the muse were good.
However, my respect for you has been falling every time I read your new book promo lamme posts.
“For three years, I went through hell and back for this book (100s of experiments like the above), so I’ll kindly ask for your help one last time.”
WTF is this? If I was wondering about ordering your book, now I’m sure I won’t. That’s gross! Any beggar can be more subtle.
I considered myself a follower of your work and lifestyle design, but actually I can’t find any reason to keep being. Your marketing stategies are getting too “agressive” (…), it doesn’t sound honest at all. Also, body obsession doesn’t have nothing to do with the subject of your first book (free time, financial independence, mobility). If your new book is also related to those topics, let me tell you that I can’t catch it from the very “sophisticated” title: “An Uncommon Guide to Rapid Fat-Loss, Incredible Sex, and Becoming Superhuman”
Sorry for my english.
December 18th, 2010
12:45 pm
Hey Tim,
An entertaining and informative post as always. What more can one ask for?
On the note of swallowing pills/capsules, there is an easy rule of thumb that can be helpful to follow – for solid pills that sink in water place the pill in the back of the oral cavity, take a swig of liquid, look up and swallow. The pill will sink as far as possible into the gullet and be followed by the liquid – for capsules which tend to float in water due to air content, place the capsule in the middle of the oral cavity, take a swig of liquid, look down and swallow. The capsule will float on top of the water and when you swallow the capsule will go down first followed by the liquid.
Thanks for all the hard work, no to mention getting the biopsy for everyone’s benefit. Ouch! Good for your karma ;-)
Cheers
December 18th, 2010
12:48 pm
Awesome. Fun post with lots of useful stuff.
December 18th, 2010
1:22 pm
Are root vegetables allowed on the diet?
December 18th, 2010
1:46 pm
I wish I could be reading four hour body, but I wanted a singed copy so had to order through barnes and noble. Well I’m still waiting for it to be delivered and I pre-ordered in September. Tim, Don’t ever go through barnes and noble. They suck as an online retailer. Only go through Amazon.
December 21st, 2010
12:07 pm
I also preordered with Barnes and Noble and they are horrible. I assumed preordering meant I would get the book the day it came out. You know what happens when you assume… but I would have been happy if it had come by the end of the week. 8 days later I still don’t have it and their customer service is no help. I’m going to buy the book in a book store which is what I should have done in the first place and return the Barnes and Noble purchase (assuming it arrives sometime in March.)
December 22nd, 2010
12:03 pm
As a follow up, I ordered Tim’s 3 book special from Amazon on Sat., Dec. 18 with free shipping and just got it today, Wed., Dec. 22. I still don’t have my Barnes and Noble preorder LOL. From now on I’ll only order through Amazon.
December 18th, 2010
2:00 pm
Tim,
I pre-ordered way back and got my signed copy a few days ago, and got the kindle version too (couldn’t wait for the hard copy). I’m an M.D. and have to say I’m very impressed with the book.
Wanted to mention another reason why your iron may have gone up when adding orange juice: vitamin C is thought to aid in iron absorption, and can be useful when treating people with iron-deficiency anemia with malabsorbtion (before using IV forms of iron). Older article, but see: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2507689
Also possibly of interest to you, in terms of reversing permanent injuries, I believe I heard at our last national rheumatology meeting that there are human trials of using stem cells to treat osteoarthritis (definitely has been tried in animals).
… maybe some thoughts for the expanded edition.
Good luck getting your spot on the NY times bestseller list!
Paul
December 18th, 2010
6:19 pm
Thanks so much for the comment and reference, Paul! I LOVE when MDs and pro help out on these topics. MUCH appreciated.
I’ll check out the stem cells, which I did experiment with indirectly. The challenge with that has been separating legitimate operations vs. fly-by-night PhDs with no moral compasses.
Happy holidays!
Tim
December 18th, 2010
2:39 pm
Amazing as usual Tim.
I am going to start selg experimentation immediately :)
December 18th, 2010
2:51 pm
I am having a huge binge day and am loading up on cinnamon and citrus. Do I need to do the air squats all day long? The book is amazing so far. Kind of sad that you have a girlfriend.
December 18th, 2010
6:18 pm
Who said I have a girlfriend?
December 19th, 2010
2:12 pm
You mention having a girlfriend a few times in the book.
Having a bad sense of time, I can see how people might mistake you having HAD girlfriends, and HAVING one.
December 19th, 2010
2:46 pm
That’s good to hear. I know this is going to sound strange, but if I don’t leave a follow-up comment, I will be thinking about it all day. I would love to give you a tour of Los Angeles next time you are in town.
December 18th, 2010
2:53 pm
Hey Tim,
Really want to help out, but would prefer to have the digital copy instead to read on my iPad. Any way you could throw in the digital copy if I provide you a receipt of the Hardcover to help your record?
Thanks!
Randy
December 18th, 2010
2:55 pm
Hey Tim!
Fantastic article. I’m looking to start self-experimentation myself, and was just wondering how you were initially able to arrange having all your blood tests taken…
-Insulin
-Haemoglobin
-Free testostrone
Having these tests taken regularly must have cost you a fortune. I can’t commend you enough for doing so! Or can you suggest a way for people to go about getting all these tests taken without breaking the bank?
Thanks,
Ed
December 18th, 2010
3:19 pm
Hi !
Firstly, I would like to apologize for my bad english. I’m not a native English speaker…
It’s a great post ! Very interesting. But I just think that we can’t disregard the placebo effect. Actually, I prefer the term of “self fullfiling prophecy”: if I really believe in something, it will probably happen.
Example : If I truly believe that this day will be a bad day, because my horoscope says that and I believe in astrology, this day will be a bad day ! (Several reasons : one is the Reticular Activation System and the idea of selective attention. We select and interpret facts and events during the day that confirm our expectations about a bad day). And it’s 100% true ! Everytime I think that it will be a bad day, it will be a bad day…
Another example, more relevant : An experiment of Dr. Henry Beecher in the science of psychoneuroimmunology (a science that I discovered thanks to Robb Wolf and “The Paleo Solution” !). Two groups of people : one group is given a capsule with barbiturate (a tranquilizer) but are told that it’s a stimulant in the capsule; another group is given a capsule with amphetamine (a stimulant) but are told it’s a tranquilizer in the capsule. The half of each group developed physical reactions that went along with their expectations : they felt stimulated with barbiturate and tranquilized with amphetamine ! It means that the mind is stronger than the body.
And it opens the huge field of self-experimentation about the relations between the mind and the body. If I’m truly convinced that I can sleep better with a mix of amphetamine and cafeine, and I want to prove it, i can sleep better with a mix of amphetamine and cafeine !
But there is a problem : it’s very difficult to “choose” to believe (in a kind of Blaise Pascal’s Wager = even if you’re not sure that the drug works, you choose to believe in it, because you have nothing to loose)
Nevertheless, all that is a huge field of (self-)experimentation, and knowing how to use the self fullfiling prophecy can be a very strong tool to improve health and performance !
I will publish a copy of this comment on my blog (http://www.yvespatte.com), so I hope that i can drive traffic to your website (of course, I know that you don’t need it, but I hope that readers of my blog will read your article and participate at the discussion).
I have ordered the “4 Hour Body” on Amazon.fr, but in Belgium, I still have to wait one or two week to receive it. Can’t wait ;-)
Yves Patte
http://www.yvespatte.com
December 18th, 2010
3:22 pm
Hmm… So food makes animals active about three hours earlier the next day, and that seems to work for people too?
That’s something worth playing with, and not just for waking up when you want to. Let’s say you take from 3 – 5 every day to get two hours work done on a project.
How awesome would it be if timing your supper for 6 gave you a boost in energy for those hours you set aside to work on your muse, or practicing your singing, whatever it is you want the increased energy for?
December 18th, 2010
3:26 pm
Hi !
Firstly, I would like to apologize for my bad english. I’m not a native English speaker…
It’s a great post ! Very interesting. But I just think that we can’t disregard the placebo effect. Actually, I prefer the term of “self fullfiling prophecy”: if I really believe in something, it will probably happen.
Example : If I truly believe that this day will be a bad day, because my horoscope says that and I believe in astrology, this day will be a bad day ! (Several reasons : one is the Reticular Activation System and the idea of selective attention. We select and interpret facts and events during the day that confirm our expectations about a bad day). And it’s 100% true ! Everytime I think that it will be a bad day, it will be a bad day…
Another example, more relevant : An experiment of Dr. Henry Beecher in the science of psychoneuroimmunology (a science that I discovered thanks to Robb Wolf and “The Paleo Solution” !). Two groups of people : one group is given a capsule with barbiturate (a tranquilizer) but are told that it’s a stimulant in the capsule; another group is given a capsule with amphetamine (a stimulant) but are told it’s a tranquilizer in the capsule. The half of each group developed physical reactions that went along with their expectations : they felt stimulated with barbiturate and tranquilized with amphetamine ! It means that the mind is stronger than the body.
And it opens the huge field of self-experimentation about the relation between the mind and the body. If I’m truly convinced that I can sleep better with a mix of amphetamine and cafeine, and I want to prove it, i can sleep better with a mix of amphetamine and cafeine !
But there is a problem : it’s very difficult to “choose” to believe (in a kind of Blaise Pascal’s Wager = even if you’re not sure that the drug works, you choose to believe in it, because you have nothing to loose)
Nevertheless, all that is a huge field of (self-)experimentation, and knowing how to use the self fullfiling prophecy can be a very strong tool to improve health and performance !
I will publish a copy of this comment on my blog, so I hope that i can drive traffic to your website (of course, I know that you don’t need it, but I hope that readers of my blog will read your article and participate at the discussion).
I have ordered the “4 Hour Body” on Amazon.fr, but in Belgium, I still have to wait one or two weeks to receive it. Can’t wait ;-)
Yves Patte
December 18th, 2010
3:29 pm
(thanks for the answer above tim!)
To all the people asking about dairy above:
Ghee (clarified butter) tastes great and stores well for a LONG time, even out of the fridge.
I have never had a problem finding it in stores near me (or on Amazon, but it is much more $$ online), but it is fast to make, so you could try making a very small batch to see how you like the taste before buying or making a bunch. Try it for cooking eggs. Much better than the taste of oil in scrambled eggs, blech.
Not sure of the health value, but I also like coconut oil for cooking. Adds a great flavor to veggies in stir fry and simple curries. Some people also use it as a butter substitute.
December 18th, 2010
3:37 pm
Tim, you tell me not to eat fruit but clearly that is an orange on the cover!
December 20th, 2010
9:43 pm
That’s what free days are for.
December 18th, 2010
3:46 pm
Hi Tim, I am reading the 4HB and I am impressed. I am bilingual English-Spanish, who can I contact to contribute with the translation into Spanish, if it hasn’t been done yet? Is there any way you can put me in contact with the folks who are working on the translation? I may be able to help. Thanks
Ramiro
December 18th, 2010
4:39 pm
Ya know, I’ve heard that all the big break throughs happen when someone jumps ship. Physicists switching to computers, etc. This post sheds new light on that trend. Gives me something to consider as I’m jumping through the hoops of an undergrad ivory tower myself.
December 18th, 2010
4:43 pm
Tim,
I’ve just got the book today from Amazon.
I’ll try it out [I need to loose some kilos desperately].
Do you have any idea when this one would be in Spanish?
December 18th, 2010
4:59 pm
All your work shows! facts! style! pictures! Great!!
You mention Macadamia Nut Oil for cooking-
Please check out Coconut Oil – for cooking and eating;
It also has unique oil constituents (medium chain).
December 18th, 2010
5:01 pm
Hi Tim. Loving the book, as I knew I would and as much as I loved the first one. My question pertains to the nutrition section. You say that one should cut out all milk, including soy but you recommend eating legumes which include edemame or soy beans. If soy beans are recommended, wouldn’t soy milk be the same thing? What is the issue with the latter that is acceptable and encouraged in the former?
You didn’t mention a reason why you discourage whole wheat. I understand the issue with white breads, pastas and rice but aside from instances where these items are dyed to look brown, can you explain the issue with 100% whole wheat products?
While I recognize the high fructose levels of fruit as problematic is there really no valid tradeoff for the vitamins that they provide? Seems like it may not be a perfect trade off but I would think fruits would offer some benefit that would fit into this plan.
A product starting with N and ending in ella [didn't want to use a product on here] is pretty high is sugar but it’s made from hazelnuts. Any thoughts on it? I think I can answer this one for myself but sometimes life offers up some pleasant surprises.
Thanks again. Awesome book. All the best. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. -Andreas
December 18th, 2010
5:58 pm
Tim (and others),
Has anyone created an “open source” 4 Hour Body spreadsheet for people to track their progress & transformations?
If one doesn’t exist, I’d be happy to draft v1.0 and post it. Let me know.
December 18th, 2010
6:12 pm
Clay, this is a fantastic idea! Please do so!
December 18th, 2010
10:37 pm
Speaking of spreadsheets, how about a (couple of) daily calendars? Something that pulls together the meals, workouts, ice baths etc all in one spot?
January 9th, 2011
10:10 am
Clay I would love to have that spreadsheet once you have it finished!
December 18th, 2010
6:08 pm
Tim,
I ordered 3 books on the 10th and still haven’t received the bonuses, other than a confirmation from The Performance Menu. I’m from Canada, but ordered BEFORE you posted about US residents only.
December 18th, 2010
6:26 pm
Tim, please consider adding units also in decimal in the next edition/book. Many can read English but converting the units is a problem when reading.
December 21st, 2010
9:00 pm
Alberto,
There are conversion charts in the appendices :-)
December 18th, 2010
6:31 pm
I remember reading about John Lilly, the guy whom Altered States was really about. And he said that he and his colleagues all believed that research begins with you and that no self respecting doctor should prescribe anything unless he has tried it out and knows what it will bring to the patient.
I fully believe this too and I say Thanks to Tim for being his own guinea pig.
December 18th, 2010
6:57 pm
Hey Tim, could you possibly elaborate on your experiments with food allergies? I remember reading where you said that those particular experiments didn’t make it into the book.
I have severe food allergies (all nuts except almonds and peanuts) and have developed a small allergy to sesame after having two kids. Weird. I’ve had several close calls over the course of my 27 years (it’s extremely annoying) and would be really interested in reading about what you found.
December 18th, 2010
8:36 pm
Tim,
so i’ve been trying to whistle real loud using my hands and mouth. Just don’t get it. I’ve watched numerous youtube videos and everything and hours of practice for several years. CAN YOU DECONSTRUCT AND SHOW US HOW IT’S DONE? PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 18th, 2010
9:11 pm
Hey, Tim – Just got your new book, did not disappoint. Congratulation on all the new ventures. Now…since we’ve mastered the scientific aspects of weight loss and muscle gain, looking at your recent videos, how about finding a cure for baldness as the next frontier? If anyone can do it, its you!
December 18th, 2010
9:45 pm
Awesome article Tim.
Because of 4hww, I hacked my studying and my business, and now with 4hb I’ll change my sleeping and my physique! So thanks bro, you’ve contributed to an all-around cooler me.
I also wrote an essay on self experimentation and the 4hww for a scholarship.; take a look :) http://yakezie.com/scholarship_essays/the-drug-dealer
Regards,
Stepan
December 18th, 2010
10:22 pm
Hey Tim,
Love the book so far, have one sort-of criticism. Most of this stuff is new territory to me, but I have looked into–though not practiced–CR (calorie restriction). I was surprised to see it given short shrift, kicked off with a decidedly non-science-based NYT excerpt (anyone who looks at those two monkeys can see a stunning difference, despite what the op-ed piece says), and a seeming reversal of your usual position in regards to both looking for hard science (the CR folk have a mountain of it on their side) and the try-it-now-don’t-wait-for-long-term-studies approach.
“Eat, drink and be merry” seems to be what kills most of us these days. I value your info on intermittent fasting, protein cycling and so on, but I’d really like to see you turned loose and hacking life-extension, which (I think just about everyone now living would agree) deserves more than “the shortest chapter on life extension ever written.”
I’d like to be reading what you’re writing in the 22nd Century.
So how about it–post topic, perhaps?
December 18th, 2010
10:43 pm
Oh..Sh*t…Tim, Why he cut your leg?
December 18th, 2010
11:17 pm
Most people don’t realize you stuff down way more in pizza than the volume of a pill. And suppliments can literally change your life. I always swallow mine in large handfuls! Mind over matter.
December 18th, 2010
11:25 pm
I have a question about training and the slow carb diet. I have been challenged to a marathon and trully I hate running, but I have never backed down from a challenge. My question is simple how do I adjust to the training and the diet…oh and I also do Kettlebell workouts…so I am concerned about over training and not enough calories for repair or endurance training…
December 18th, 2010
11:53 pm
Actually I feel this is one of the drawbacks of the book – not everyone wants to spend as much time thinking and experimenting with this stuff as Tim does. Some people just want simple, repeatable plans that work. I applaud him for publishing his experiments for the greater social good, but encouraging everyone to become experimenters themselves I think puts the cart before the horse for some people. If you have a full-time job, a family, and any other hobbies, then spending all this time researching, experimenting, documenting and analyzing data about things like this is just not as likely as it would be for someone who makes money doing it, has a life passion for it, and has fewer social obligations than a typical parent.
That being said, I really wish the book did a better job at tying together all the different ideas. The “Subtracting Fat” section alludes to exercise as part of some of the case example’s program, but often the details are left out. There are exercise recommendations to a certain degree, but beyond the GLUT-4 sequence, it’s almost like the “Subtracting Fat” section is implying no exercise is necessary. That’s fine, but why not state that plainly if that’s what you mean? I found myself looking for the “Subtracting Fat” exercises, and just had to assume that the “Perfect Posterior” chapter was the most relevant. It would be nice if that was stated. But even the programs in that chapter get a little confusing, as Tim jumps back and forth from anecdotes of what he did, to what another person did, to what a 3rd person did that he then details as an actual program. It’s good that there are a lot of ideas, but they seem just kinda jumbled together, and I had to sit down and write out every idea that was mentioned to try and piece together a systematic plan that incorporated everything. Kinda annoying.
Also, the Ultraendurance sections allude to someone being able to go from 0k to 50k, but then other sections mention a 5k base as a starting point. Is the cross-training program detailed there assuming the ability to run a 5k or not? If not, then where is the 0k to 5k program or a recommendation to one?
So this is one of the drawbacks to an experiment-focused writing approach – getting lost in the confusing maze of details in an attempt to accurately relay the ins and outs of various experiments, and not always summing up or connecting the relevance or the quintessence of what has been learned so that other people can take the meat and move on with their non-health-researcher lives.
December 19th, 2010
9:48 am
You are right on the money with this. I had to create a one note file and try to piece all the exercises and ideas together, but still find I am a bit confused as to how to best implement this plan that has many parts.
I think the ideas about single set training (although not new) are great to see reiterated here. It will most likely change the way I think about exercise and how to build muscle forever.
In order to really get a lot out of this book one needs to spend quite a few hours pouring through everything and then trying to make sense of it all. Tim you should release a free companion book that puts together a three part system that you could just follow. In fact as a Physician Assistant who is trying to devise simple plans that patients can stick with and see results this is exactly what I am trying to do with your data.
December 19th, 2010
12:41 am
I bought your book and love it so far. Expect many recommendations for further purchases !!
I am on Occam’s and was wondering whether I can still have a cheat day?
Also while on Occams can one take PAGG as well? In the book a time frame for PAGG is given, but in accordance with meals is there a specific time frame before such as 10-15 minutes, or 1-2 hours?
Next while on the either above one or both(depending on your answer to the above) or either one, can an individual also do sex machine protocols 1 and 2 ?
Finally if it is possible to perform this all is there an optimum time frame for each and what would that be?
December 19th, 2010
1:10 am
Who came up with Eat like Santa look like Jesus? That’s awesome!
A comment on the iron absorption and vitamin C Inuit in northern Canada traditionally ate raw meat, which contains a lot of vitamin C and iron (I defend my friends who choose rare steaks with this argument :) I would like to give up meat entirely, but am still running into problems with iron even with the Vit C trick taken with iron.
Anyway, I anxiously await my copy, which I hope will arrive before the new year :)
S
December 19th, 2010
4:15 am
Hi Tim,
I have two questions for you.
1. Do you think it’s ok to combine a) the slow carb diet with b) from geek to freak and c) (P)AGG for a 30 day extreme makeover?
Subject would be my dad who is a 59 year old smoker, healthy yet not exactly super fit. He is not obese but has a normal weight with about 10 – 20 pounds of abdominal fat (not above the muscels but at least 95% of it between the organs).
2. Can you explain why it is important to take Vitamine B supplements with PAGG?
Thanks and all the best,
Chris
December 19th, 2010
6:06 am
Hey Tim, I came across this a few days ago, thought you might find it an interesting read.
http://edition.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/12/09/worms.health/index.html
December 19th, 2010
4:39 pm
GREAT article. Thank you. It does also highlight the risks of showcasing self-experimenters. Surprisingly well written, given the controversy.
December 19th, 2010
7:39 am
Is it possible to heal a rotator cuff tear without surgery?
December 19th, 2010
4:34 pm
Hi Tom,
A partial tear, sometimes. A complete tear, not in my experience. I went through 20+ dislocations of my left before I finally bit the bullet. I wish I’d done it earlier.
Best,
Tim
January 10th, 2011
2:09 am
Tom
I had a partial tear (infraspinatus/supraspinatus, can’t remember which) that I gained through playing drums a little too hard at an evidently awkward angle and overtraining with weights at the same time.
I adjusted my drumming set up, stopped training for 6 months and it healed 100%. I’ve started training again but building up slowly and I made sure I kept the shoulder active but not stressed the whole time.
The doc told me I would most likely need surgery but with enough rest it healed itself.
Good luck dude
Chris.
December 19th, 2010
9:07 am
Tim,
First great book, got it Friday and read the whole thing by Saturday night and now doing my re-reading, note taking etc. 4 Hour Work Week was great and sometime I’ll send you what I did using some of those principles but some of the core concepts help me take my business’s 6 figures and bring it to 7 and then some! During that same 13 months I lost 113 lbs using my own natural program but have since gained about 20 of it back and yo-yoing primarily due to my ability and need to travel domestic and overseas and a new gf which has changed my lifestyle as opposed to during my initial loss. I have been looking for a program like yours that is suited to the global hopping lifestyle
Already started on the PAGG and Slow-Carb and the Ab stuff, can feel it already. Bought 3 copies for gifts yesterday too.
One thing that concerns me and possibly a concern for all the readers are that a person like me who reads all these books and lists the supplements may go out and get it all at once from the PAGG, to the CQ etc. Question is, and I might have missed this having skimmed some areas on the first read but what are the concerns on taking all of these supplements at once.
You have probably done a lot of testing with one group of supplements vs the others but wondering how many of your supplements you take every day.
For example if I wanted to follow a lot of your supplements I would be taking
Athletic Greens
CQ
AGG 3 times a day
PAGG once a day (with B-Complex)
Then also wondering if the fat-loss sections and muscle gain sections should be done separately or concurrently since it adds things into the mix such as the slow release niacin with Alpha Lipoic Acid and the NOX (which might be overkill paired with the Green Tea Extracts)
Basically wondering what kind of isolated supplements you have done. Mainly I am concerns with interactions with unknown combinations.
Again, fantastic job on the book just would appreciate some clarification for myself and others
December 19th, 2010
9:08 am
Really cannot say enough about your book. I just finished the Pre-hab section and this is a key chapter for everyone and I hope people don’t overlook it. It will be extremely helpful yet challenging for me. This is the section where I will do so much work and self experimentation. As an ak amputee I believe this section can be very interesting if I can figure out how to do it and it may just be a matter of lots of work. I am excited to be able to do the exercises on both sides and perhaps in the future let other amputees know that this is possible and important.
I hear you may be in Jordan next year. Maybe I’ll see you there while I am spending most of the year out in the middle east. Yep, I love languages as well
Thanks again I look forward to balancing out
December 19th, 2010
4:32 pm
Thanks so much, Hope! It is a very important chapter, for sure. Please keep me posted on your progress!
All the best,
Tim
December 19th, 2010
9:35 am
Tim, a question about PAGG: Why did you choose ALA instead of RLA? ALA is cheaper and more widely available but it seems likely that RLA is the bioactive component.
December 19th, 2010
4:30 pm
Hi David,
I tested both RLA and ALA, and I simply didn’t see any additional fat-loss benefit on equivalent doses of RLA, even with 2 or 3 brands. It could be more helpful somehow, but I didn’t find the cost differential worth it.
Best,
Tim
December 21st, 2010
5:27 am
What about adding Acetyl L-Carnitine? Using the 2 together causes a synergistic effect in regards to energy and fat burning. The combo is even better when CoQ10 is added.
December 19th, 2010
10:12 am
Hey, Tim.
Actually, i’d like to know your thoughts about water.
Like there are lots of brandnames of it and everybody claims to have it purified somehow in a complex way.
Also, water filters are sold everywhere – i’d love to know if there’s a simple to find out if the filter is actually worth its price.
I have a thought that i might find out something that i better not knew but well…
Cause to me it seems that water filtering is a big scam. I mean, I’m smart enough not to drink water with sand or colored any color, but maan… are they expecting me to believe that by paying measly 30-40 bucks I’d get a water-purification plant? Cmon… besides, i think they do a good job in water pipe systems.
December 19th, 2010
7:14 pm
In developed countries, water in the public systems are normally one of the most tested and controlled foods around. As it is transported through pressurized systems, it normally does not pick up anything along the way. It might get interesting though, once it gets to your house or wherever you are choosing to drink tap water.
Old homes might still be fitted with lead piping. Lead=not good for you! So you might want to get it tested if you are scared it might not be ok.
The Brittas etc. filter out the minerals which lead to lime scale and help protect your appliances
December 19th, 2010
7:33 pm
ooppppsss… post went out a wee bit too quickly.
If you are a coffee or tea lover and you have tons of minerals in your tap water, by all means use a filter. Some people say it tastes better, some say it makes no difference. Personally, I don’t taste a difference and I have a pretty good sense of taste and smell.
Tap water is the cheapest and most earth friendly way to stay hydrated. So if there is no poisonous stuff in it as mentioned above, there is no reason you should not drink it or that you have to filter it. Tap is best!!!!!
Two more thoughts:
1) Old building+central de-calcifying system=potential trouble as existant lime scale in pipes comes off after a while and potentially leaves lead piping exposed and then there is REALLY a lot in your water.
2) Bottled water: if for some reason you decide to go for that, make sure you rotate the brand every now and then, as each one of them does have a different mineral make-up.
December 19th, 2010
7:41 pm
January 3rd, 2011
1:28 am
I’m not Tim – but I have done a lot of research on water filters, and which is the best type to install. Reverse osmosis filters are worth every cent as they filter out chlorine and fluoride, not just particulate matter or bacteria and viruses. They are of course much more expensive, but if you are sensitive to chlorine or fluoride (and many people are without realising it) it could make the world of difference to you. Good luck!
December 19th, 2010
12:05 pm
I get the feeling that you needed all the mobility, free time, and automation in your last book so you could spend all your time working on and experimenting with your body in this one… Someone had quite the complicated dreamline!
December 19th, 2010
12:18 pm
Wow, lots of BCAA for a single take, aren’t they usually spaced out, like 5×5 pills with X minutes in between? or do both work the same? (Unrelated: lol at using kindle manual as kitchen utensil :P )
Anyway, I went ahead and made a 2 month PAGG spreadsheet for anyone who would be interested, along with off days and off week. Yes it looks ugly, but it does the trick :)
You can get it here:
http://www.tilenkrivec.com/pagg.pdf
December 22nd, 2010
1:38 pm
Tilen-
Any insight regarding my post about the PAGG stack I just left? Thanks for the spreadsheet.
December 19th, 2010
1:08 pm
Tim,
Do you know of any way one may test for long term side effects of Accutane?
I was given a 5 month “mega dose” course 14 years ago for mild acne. Many things were “off” in various ways following the “treatment,” and have chronically persisted.
I’m wondering if I’m on an accelerated cell death schedule, and how one could test for that (telomeres, etc)
Any input would be appreciated.
December 19th, 2010
1:37 pm
Hi Tim,
Along the lines of self experimentation. On page 116 of 4HB you talk about adrenal fatigue and sinusitis. Other than eliminating caffeine in incremental dosage, was there anything in your self experimentation you used to get your adrenals back on track?
thanks, p.s I’m tellin lots of folks and clients!
December 19th, 2010
4:26 pm
Hi Michael,
I hope to talk more about this soon.
Thanks!
Tim
December 19th, 2010
2:17 pm
Is it worth following the slo-carb diet partially?
I am going to try it, but have little desire to cut out fruit and milk forever. (I currently drink about a gallon every two days.)
I wonder if it is worth doing a little bit, or if that would just waste time and effort I could use to find a diet more attuned to my desires.
December 19th, 2010
3:45 pm
http://www.marksdailyapple.com/dairy-intolerance/ Here is a good few words on dairy.
And adding my 2 cents, when it comes to coffee, substitute with splash of cream, for protein shakes substitute with water, for normal use like uhm… drinking? substitute with kefir.
Raw milk would probably also be better than “regular” milk, but as fas as ive heard the taste is kinda horrid :P
Hope it helped
December 19th, 2010
6:23 pm
Thanks, that is a very interesting article.
Something it reminded me of that is little related is that I don’t go for the traditional concept of evolution and where we were in the last 10-30 thousand years. The archeology just doesn’t support Humans being widely primitive.
So thanks for helping me recenter ;)
I would take your advice for the drinking except I gag on kefir last I had it, and I drink milk like water. Raw milk tastes distinctly like…….dirt. Yes, I have eaten dirt, and raw milk tastes like it.
December 19th, 2010
2:56 pm
haha! i can do that pill trick too. but when it goes awry…!
December 19th, 2010
3:01 pm
ah.. off blog and missed the saturday deadline info.
nonetheless, on Amazon and now on my FB:
My beloved hero Tim Ferriss’ new book, “The 4-Hour Body” is out. Anyone interested in geniusly short-cutted bulking up, skinnying down, marathoning, swimming, sleep-optimizing, holding your breath underwater for 3 minutes, 15 minute female orgasms :) !!!, or other examples of extraordinary superhuman feats, get this. As a fan of integrative medicine, I was delighted to see tons of info on supplementation, detox., optimizing health, etc. Truly, no book out there like this.
Although I think there is some gratuitous name-dropping for street cred, I think it is sheerly for marketing purposes and not out of hubris. And, he does know these people. Ferriss comes across as a genuine, excited-about-life, excited-to-share, caring human with bad case of OCD that benefits him and us thanks to his kindness. In my quest for recovering health from illness, I have come across many of the nutritional and exercise concepts he introduces, and I believe he is working with some of the finest ideas out there, none being perfect or globally applicable, in my opinion.
He is faulted for using a small trial population (umm, 1, for the most part), but I have no issues with this. I’ve taken several drugs with randomized double blind studies and FDA approval that almost killed me. In this world, we are all our own guinea pigs. Caveat emptor. For ALL things you put in or do with your body. His conclusions are aligned with many other antectodal accounts I have heard for the handful of techniques I am familiar with. Good enough for me.
He is also faulted for writing style. Granted, there’s some rambling. But I personally enjoy his mixed storytelling and instruction-cramming writing.
One gripe: and I’ve had it with the blog a few times. With the sex and partner advice, I do not like the cold calculation/technique application thing. And I do not like the glamourized edge (although I understand this is another aspect of his branding). I am a romantic…… But still, I can admit, many a romance would be improved by some of his information. So, thank god for this personal possiblity analyst extraordinaire.
December 19th, 2010
3:18 pm
HiTim,
I have just finished reading the chapter about sleep in your new book. This is interesting stuff, but there is a more efficient and completely cost-free way how to reduce the amount of sleep and increase its quality. All you need to do is to meditate, no gadgets are necessary. The results will depend on how deep you samadhi is. Even unexperienced practioners easily go down to six hours within a few days on full-time meditation retreats (10 hours of meditation per day). Of course, as you practice develops, you get better resuts in less time.
I think that onset insomnia is common in people with enneagram 7 personality type. You might like to explore that.
December 19th, 2010
5:06 pm
Hi Tim –
Heck yeah to self-experimentation!
I started out as soon as I got the book (4 days ago) with the cold metabolism hacks (trying not to give away too much), and already have dropped 3 pounds. That’s WITHOUT any diet modifications, and WITH constant hydration and weigh-in timing. I’m impressed! I’m going to give this another week and a half or so by itself to remove any possible “fluke” weighs, but I’m already pumped.
I want to go on the slow-carb diet next, but I have a couple quick questions. I’m a vegetarian (but cool with eggs & dairy), so I need protein everywhere I can get it. You gave a great run-down of why dairy should be avoided, but do you recommend the same for non-dairy animal milk products? I’m specifically thinking of Feta cheese (from goat’s milk) or Greek Yogurt from sheep’s milk.
Also, what about protein shakes? Can those be relied on as a protein source (either morning or night), or do they get discarded with the “don’t drink calories” rule?
Thanks for the awesome book! I passed it around the offices at my start-up accelerator as soon as I got it and everyone wanted to steal it from me (and several bought their own copies).
-Alex
December 19th, 2010
5:41 pm
I have had a lot of success with 2 of your techniques – fat loss (lost 16,9 lbs in 15 days) and polyphasic sleep (did uberman for 12 days, but it wasn’t popular with my wife and the world around me. Been polyphasic (1,5+3 hour core, 20 min nap. after lunch) for more than a year instead).
Now I want to try more stuff and after reading your books, I can feel tons of questions popping up together with a need to discuss it all.
So what about a Four Hour Body forum?
I know you answer questions here on your blog, but you can’t answer everything and maybe you and us readers will also gain additional values by being able to discuss things amongst ourselves.
December 19th, 2010
6:33 pm
I have bought your book and read through several chapters and started practicing the techniques you teach in your book. I’m getting great results and I’ve gifted your book twice already! It’s awesome!
December 19th, 2010
6:50 pm
I’m reading a lot of comments about the horrible taste of raw milk. Where are you people getting your raw milk? The raw milk I’ve had has always tasted great, and has not tasted THAT different from pasteurized homogenized milk. RM must be kept cold, and has a limited shelf life, but it should not taste “awful” unless it’s from a syphilitic goat.
December 19th, 2010
6:54 pm
Huzzah for self-experimentation.
13 years of CFS has come at a cost of $20,000 in medical bills, $160,000 in lost income due to periods of being unable to work, and more blood tests than I can count.
And what’s helped me the most? My own research/experimentation and tuning into my “gut feeling”. EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) has also proven beneficial.
Interestingly enough, when I’ve told my doctors about two strong connections I’ve made with my health issues, they’ve shown little interest, if any at all – one even denied my claims.
I truly appreciate this post.
December 19th, 2010
6:56 pm
First off, Tim, if you’re still having sleeping issues… you need to have more sex. Best sleep aid in the world.
I’d been doing the paleo thing for the past month and made the small adjustments to the slow-carb with emphasis on a LOT more protein in the past few days and I can’t get over the amount of energy I have. Wow! (I had a bad habit of skipping breakfast or lunch.)
I’m going to document my results… as a 47 year old out-of-shape woman who cooks for the 3 men in my life, I can tell you, having pre-prepared meals on hand for myself makes the world of difference. I have no problem baking a batch of cookies and not eating any of them (I have a lot of ‘won’t power’), but without having something easy for myself to eat, I was tending to make lazy choices about my meals and wasn’t getting enough protein.
Now if I could just get my husband to do some of the exercises to help is aching back…
December 19th, 2010
9:08 pm
On the tap water issue, it may be earth-friendly but it’s not always body-friendly. NY recently (this year) went after major healthcare providers for dumping their drugs directly into the water supply of 8 million people.
(NY AG’s press release: http://www.ag.ny.gov/media_center/2010/jan/jan12a_10.html )
You’re as likely to find trace amounts of antipsychotics, hormones, antibiotics and antidepressants in your tap water as not. These things (and others) are not adequately filtered by municipal systems. The problem is widespread. And let’s not forget the “toilet-to-tap” programs, one of which is soon coming to Los Angeles, the growing fracking contamination issue (Flaming tap water, anyone? Google the Gasland trailer.) and so on.
I’m all for self-experimentation–I just don’t want to be the unwitting subject of someone else’s let’s-dump-this-toxic-crap-and-see-what-happens experiment.
Katadyn makes excellent (and expensive) filters; the Red Cross uses them all over the world, though they’re mainly concerned with organic nasties.
Some bottled waters also have issues. Ah, modern life…
December 20th, 2010
8:59 am
John, I agree, you need to look into it before you go tap. In Berlin I use tap as I know the water originates in areas without intensive farming. In Brussels I don’t as here are intensive pig and cow farmsteads allover. Crazy to think more than 80% of the antibiotics in Europe are used in intensive animal farming and naturally it all ends up in our water and then we complain about resistant hospital super bug strains. Ah well, our world is complex and there rarely seems to be one right answer for everything anymore.
Tim’s approach of self-experimentation to me is just one part of a much wider subject. Our bodies are wonderful machines which are super complex and all work in a wee bit different manners. It is our responsibility to track our health, our physical wellness and all. Nobody else will do that for us. I have come to see doctors as partners, like coaches or trainers. They can assist us but we have to do the ground work ourselves. It is not only since Wikileaks that there is almost no info anymore which is not available to anybody with a keen interest and an internet connection. So what is keeping so many from being their best version of themselves by trying out what works and what doesn’t?
December 19th, 2010
9:59 pm
HELP! I had my copy of 4HB pre-ordered and have started reading it. I am ready to start the slow carb diet but have one question….is this suppose to be the way I eat FOREVER or just 30 days? I haven’t found the answer to that in the book.
Does anyone have info on this???? Tim suggested people ask questions in the blog comments, I do appreciate it if anyone stops to answer. THANKS!!
December 19th, 2010
10:59 pm
Tim once again you wrote a wonderful book. I only wish I ordered more than 3 signed copies when I had the chance. I was surprised however that your book doesn’t include any material on Lucid Dreaming. Was your earlier blog post merely a cool tangent from your regular wanderings or do you plan on exploring it more in the future.
December 20th, 2010
12:20 am
Holy cow Tim! I just got the book delivered and it’s MASSIVE! Good job I’ve been doing your gym program.
December 20th, 2010
1:12 am
Hi, Tim
I know you are planing more posts regarding successful muses.
I think I would be a good idea to arrange them by the amount of start-up funds required. For instance, Successful Muses with a total investment of $1000, $500, $100 and so on. It’s not that one cannot achieve massive income from a $100 muse. But it is best to be honest about start-up funds as it is one of the biggest obstacle for new entrepreneurs. Without discussing start-up funds, even real success stories can sound like fairy tales. Just a suggestion.
David
December 20th, 2010
1:47 am
I think muses are hard to sort by investment, as the same muse could cost someone $1000 to start up, another person might invest $10.000 for the same type of muse with same results, simply because of different geo location, different knowledge, contacts, etc.
Best thing is, you can test your muse for pennies nowdays. While google adwords can also be expensive for many people, a good and cheaper alternatives that still bring good results are Google Content Network (Adsense Banner Ads – have to take your time to pick the right target websites) and Facebook Advertising (Can be very highly targeted so know your demographic)
December 20th, 2010
6:15 am
Tim, You are a machine!!!!
Great book!
December 20th, 2010
8:43 am
I’m a big fan, Tim. I love your non-conventional approach to life and read the Four Hour Work Week several times. I was very excited to hear you had another book coming out, especially when I heard the subject matter. However, as the book release approached, something about your over the top marketing tactics was not sitting right with me. It seemed as if you were obsessed with “beating guiness” and topping the NYT bestsellers list in the first week. I kept wondering why this was so important and then it hit me. Were you more concerned with cashing in on the book (with the excessive marking stuff) than in just producing a high quality book? What made the Four Hour work week a bestseller was not the marking, but simply a great book with solid content (which of course went viral via WOM). I wondered if you were concerned that this book’s content alone could not sustain it so you orchestrated the mother of all marketing campaigns just to cash in. Well, to my relief, I got the book several days ago and have found it well written and full of excellent content. All that to say, I’m no marketing expert, but I wonder if I’m not the only one who was a bit turned off by your run-up to the book release. At any rate, I’m still a huge fan and will definitely recommend the book to others. Peace!
December 20th, 2010
8:54 am
Easy to watch the pills, VERY TOUGH to watch the Biopsy… BUT I made myself watch it…. Thanks for sharing…. Best, Brian-
December 20th, 2010
9:01 am
Started the diet yesterday. Ate a clove of garlic before reading T’s advice about that. About puked, but survived it. Ate egg whites w/one egg mixed in w/cheese for breakfast, pinto beans mid-morning, 1/4 grapefruit mid-morning, salad w/turkey and blue cheese dressing for lunch, 1 small glass of red wine at the Christmas Party mid-afternoon and 1/2 can pinto beans and cottage cheese for supper. Drank lots of water and green tea. Gained 1.3 pounds. Trying not to get discouraged. Now I have 66.3 lbs to loose instead of 65. Not sure this will work for a 59.75 yr old woman who wants to be thinner by the time she’s 60.
December 20th, 2010
10:55 am
Hi Ruby,
The key is to ignore minor fluctuations and focus on bodyfat composition. If the diet work for my mom, who is older than you and has thyroid problems, I strongly suspect it will work.
Please get your bodyfat calculated, focus on the inches if needed (measuring tape), and keep the faith! It works.
Best,
Tim
December 30th, 2010
11:40 pm
Muscle weighs more than fat. Don’t let a scale control your life.
December 20th, 2010
9:17 am
Day two of the diet, down THREE pounds! (I had set a goal of losing five by New Year’s.)
Foods I’ve been eating: Protein shake w/avocado (vs. oatmeal previously), eggs w/dhal, dhal w/Indian chicken and lamb dishes (tomato and spinach-based sauces) – w/o rice, chicken/steak fajitas w/o rice or tortillas, no milk, beef brisket w/baked beans (which I think was too high in sugar and sodium, but I had to work with it), sashimi and red wine..
Question: Your binge day description is extremely complicated and you talk a lot about eliminating food from the gut asap to reduce calorie absorption. But if you’re NOT prepared to take supplements, do air squats and wall pushups in a restroom stall (and keeping track of when you need to do them), drink caffeine or grapefruit juice, etc. on your binge day, then what??
The binge day as described in the earlier chapter is sounding too good to be true.
December 20th, 2010
10:52 am
Hey BB,
If you don’t want to do all that on binge day, no problem. Just enjoy it and get back on the diet the next day! No need to make it complicated.
Good luck! I have a feeling you’ll surpass your 5 lbs. :)
Tim
December 20th, 2010
9:40 am
Tim, have you done any research on absorption based on molecule size?
ie: angstrom, micron, liquid, etc
Pills only absorb 5-10% if I’m not mistaken.
That would be an interesting experiment…
- Chris
December 20th, 2010
10:11 am
Tim, if you find a cure for hair loss, please post. Thanks!
December 20th, 2010
10:53 am
Also, I had planned to give a LOT of the books for Christmas and was told we’d have them by Christmas… getting nervous!
Can’t wait to dig into the book!
Josh
December 20th, 2010
10:59 am
Woh… that’s one way to get in your BCAA’s! I do the same with my morning vitamins… C, D, E, green tea, multi, CoQ10, cissus, Glucosamine and Hawthorn berry. Mind you it takes a few times to get it all down.
Tim, have you ever tried Xtend BCAA powder, by Scivation? I take it pre empty-stomach LI cardio, during-WO with Beta Alanine, and post-WO with Creatine. It has Glutamine, Citrulline Malate, and Vitamin B6 in it too. Tastes pretty good; well, as good as supplements can taste anyway (grape is my fav).
December 20th, 2010
11:24 am
I started reading your book and when I got to the section about establishing a foundation or measuring point for BMI I ran down the list and decided to call about a Dexascan. The local imaging center in my town informed me I would have to get a doctors referral before I could get one and I would have to have the results examined by a technician. If I have insurance they will not allow me to simply pay for the test and leave with my results. You paid $49.00 for a test in CA. I am being force to pay for a doctors appointment, the scan itself and a techinician to read the results. It is a frustrating start and not exactly inexpensive. I will re-read for another option but this is not a good start. Thank you.
December 21st, 2010
11:29 pm
Hi Robert,
In that case, I’d suggest looking on Bodpod.com — no referral needed.
Thx!
Tim
December 20th, 2010
11:50 am
Hi Tim!
Purchased your book and I find it quite interesting. I am trying to adopt the slow carb diet. I hate cereals in the morning anyways so this is awesome as I always crave meats and vegetables.
I found something in your book that puzzles me on page: the GA portion in New Rules for Rapid Redesign. You state the an hour long session on stairmaster would burn about 107 calories. I don’t think this is the case. I run about an hour and I am 190lb. That make for about 600 calories. I think a person my size or smaller would burn at least 400 calories. That means they would need to watch about 4 hours of Simpsons. I think I might of missed something? What do you think?
December 23rd, 2010
11:41 am
Yes, I noticed this too. It think many people burn 107 calories an hour simply resting, not to mention an hour on a stairmaster. I see the point he was making with this illustration, but the numbers should be reviewed.
December 20th, 2010
11:54 am
Hey Tim,
I don’t know if this is the best place to post this, but I’m loving the new book. I just ran across this article about exercising before eating breakfast and wanted to know your opinion on its validity and how it would fit into your diet/exercise regimen.
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/15/phys-ed-the-benefits-of-exercising-before-breakfast/
December 20th, 2010
12:15 pm
Tim
Thankyou. Massive value.
I understand the launch bonuses were limited but any chance of similar packages/links on an ongoing basis?
(Yes, I do have buyers remorse that I didn’t get the “sex machine” book package due to my own logistical constraints).
I only purchased the basic package, but I very much appreciated the opportunity to bookmark a heap of products that you have roadtested or recommended that I would never have come across and will improve mine and my loved ones lives.
Cheers
Stu
December 20th, 2010
12:31 pm
Hey Tim,
I’ve read your articles for a while but I’ve been one of those people who reads, agrees, saves the link and then does nothing about it. Well, no more of that. I started your diet yesterday and am blogging about it here:
http://www.60in3.com/2010/12/20/how-to-lose-20lbs-in-30-days-without-exercising/
So far so good. I experimented a bit with it last week and it seemed to be working well but this week is going to be the first full week on the diet. I’ll let you know how it goes.
Note, I’m hoping that link doesn’t count as spam. If so, please feel free to remove it. You won’t hurt my feelings :)
December 20th, 2010
2:15 pm
Good points! I’ve been getting headaches like never before in Korea, which has led me to testing through various different actions/rituals.
December 20th, 2010
3:59 pm
Great book Tim. I’m not overweight, but I’ve always wanted to have visible abdominal muscles. I’m one week into the slow-carb diet, and I can already see some definition! I’ve got a nice 4 pack going on right now, and I can’t wait to see the results at the end of the experiment.
You mention stretching throughout the book, but never provide a hack. I’ve tried various forms of stretching with moderate but inconsistent/plateaued results, and while I love an occasional hour-long yoga class, it’s not practical to spend 7 hours a week stretching. Any tips?
December 21st, 2010
11:25 pm
PNF!
December 20th, 2010
4:18 pm
Hi Tim,
Just ordered 6 bottles of fermented cod liver oil and butter oil capsules – excited for your testosterone increasing regimen (started the PAAG last week, same day I bought the book)
December 20th, 2010
5:16 pm
4HB kills. I’m off to the sporting goods store now to grab a kettlebell.
Re the slow-card breakfast: If i don’t like the consistency of most egg preparation styles, is it OK to substitute organic hard-boiled eggs for the egg whites?
(BTW, I’m taking a huge leap of faith here. I haven’t eaten eggs since experimenting with macrobiotics years ago)
December 20th, 2010
5:20 pm
Tim,
Question for you regarding the chapter on PAGG….
You mentioned the cadence of taking the supplements before meals and before bedtime, but as far as timing, how long should you take it before eating?
Also, what is the average benefit to fat loss solely for the PAGG regimen?
PS
Great job on the book! I’m loving it and look forward to trying out the PAGG regimen as well as the ice pack routine for starters(I’m already following Atkins phase 1, to the tune of ~50 lbs since starting on September 6th, and am not ready to abandon that yet…)
December 20th, 2010
5:53 pm
A lot of questions pop up when I read your new book. Guess I’m not the only one with lots of questions, so what about a forum where us readers can discuss things and exchange ideas/tips? (I know you answer questions here on the blog, but you can’t answer everything).
Love the book. So far, I have successfully done the fat loss program (lost 16,9 lbs in 15 days) and polyphasic sleeping (12 days of uberman, it works but it didn’t go well with my wife and the world around me. Have been polyphasic instead for more than a year (1,5+3 hour core sleep and 20 min. nap after lunch)).
Currently trying damage control, so Christmas will not be so hard on my new sixpack :)
December 20th, 2010
6:55 pm
Hi Tim! Just wanted to let you know that the site is officially live now! Hope you like it :-) I go for my BodPod appointment tomorrow!!
http://fourhourbodyproject.com/
xo
Jacq
December 20th, 2010
8:34 pm
Just got my copy of 4HB, woohoo!
Two quick questions for the group:
- it sounds like most sugar replacements are either specifically bad in some way (e.g. Splenda, aspartame), and are too closely related to glucose, (trigger insulin response). The book only lists a few though, are the unlisted ones (e.g. stevia, honey), also problematic? Or usable in moderation?
- I use ginger tea before and/or after meals for digestive tract acceleration to good effect. Are there any negative side effects of ginger to watch out for?
December 20th, 2010
8:34 pm
Love the book, but I have to agree with some other commenters that it is difficult to put together a recipe for daily use from all of the suggestions. Some things seem to be ongoing, while I am unclear as to whether others are only for special circumstances, relate specifically to something Tim was testing, or can be slotted into a regular program.
PAGG
Pro/Pre-biotics
Cinnamon
Grapefruit Juice
CQ
Athletic Greens
Potassium
Magnesium
Calcium
Almond Butter
Butter Fat
Fermented Cod Liver
etc.
I would really appreciate something of a daily schedule for how these things fit in and should be used together under normal circumstances. IOW, do I incorporate all of the above at once, or are certain of them solely for special circumstances?
I understand that everyone is different, but a solid place to start and what to regularly monitor would be great. I am confident that it is all in there, but it is a little daunting for someone who just wants to get started.
Thanks a lot.
December 20th, 2010
9:49 pm
I’m jealous, everyone got their books but me. Lol.
Who do I talk to? I’m trying to figure this out, I just got back into town so bear with me. Looks like I paid through PayPal on the 6th for $21.99 and then got charged an extra $19 on the 7th of Dec. for something called the Buff Bundle. Is that your offer Tim? I thought the the bundle offer was one charge of $21.99 for book included.
PayPal is not giving me a lot of info to go on so sorry if I’m mistaken.
By the way, amazing how you swallowed the pills with so little water!!!!!!
Was the biopsy done with anesthetic? Either way, pretty amazing stuff without flinching. Looking forward to your new book! Thanks for all the work you do.
December 20th, 2010
11:36 pm
[...] post on self-experimentation by a non-expert disproves a dermatologist’s advice on treating acne, [...]
December 21st, 2010
12:15 am
I stumbled upon your blog/book from two blogs I read and I must say, i am sad i didn’t find you sooner! I love LOVE everything you are about! I can’t wait to buy your books!!
Thank you for being a inspiration to everyone who is on the search/path for their dreams!!
Happy Holidays!
December 21st, 2010
1:40 am
I noticed on page 120, under “Tools and Tricks”:
Heads up!
That some of the various links lead you to related drugs with a different number of milligrams per pill or a different number of caplets per purchase.
December 21st, 2010
2:26 am
Tim,
Cheat day makes me feel like utter dookie.
I’d like to maintain the weight-loss and prevent protein uptake downregulation but my body no likie the cheat foods.
Any work arounds?
Good Vibes~
Vic
December 21st, 2010
2:31 am
Tim,
The info on BAT/brown adipose tissue/brown fat is sooo timely.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/20/brown-fat-injections-obesity_n_799503.html
New research shows it’s possible to change white fat cells into brown fat cells. As you said though – the masses would have to wait 10 years.
December 21st, 2010
4:54 am
Tim, I’ve been on the slow-carb diet now for a few days, and I’m getting a really nasty headache. Is this simply withdrawals from the carbs? Do I just have to wait it out until my body adjusts to the diet? I’ve taken headache tablets and they’re not working.
Any additional information would be greatly appreciated.
December 21st, 2010
11:22 pm
Please see your doctor and also check your calorie total. This is not a normal effect!
December 24th, 2010
11:40 pm
Seb – I was getting headaches the first three days as well and was sticking very strictly to the diet during that time (have fallen off a bit – holidays!!); I also did not exercise so I did not eat any carbs during that time. I tried to do some brief internet research to see if there was some kind of withdrawal tied to not eating carbs/sugar but I did not find anything reputable that verifies it’s possible. The headaches went away for me after I splurged a little on some Christmas cookies. I know that’s not conclusive but if there are more people having any headache issues maybe there is some kind of correlation.
December 25th, 2010
8:57 pm
@Stacy/Seb – probably dhydration. Need lots of water with this!
December 30th, 2010
11:46 pm
Please get your blood sugar checked as well. I’m not suggesting you’re a full blown diabetic, but it’d be something good to rule out.
January 10th, 2011
6:18 pm
I would guess the headaches are caffeine withdrawal. A thought.
December 21st, 2010
5:28 am
Tim, your (signed) books arrived last night. 4HB is completely overwhelming, in the best way possible. 4HWW was huge for me, and if this has the same level of impact, you’re going to be the best friend I never met.
So, let me help you with one question you were unable to answer: how Homeopathy works.
There are a number of substances that leave a clearly measurable residual energy even when every molecule of the material itself has been removed. We call these substances “radioactive,” and are well aware that anything exposed to them can be highly toxic for many years.
Homeopathic medicine – which my family has used for decades, and which recently shrunk my uncle’s stomach tumor to a degree that his oncologist literally could not believe – is based on the premise that EVERY substance has a residual energy.
There was a time when our technology could not measure the energy emitted by Radium, Uranium, or Curium. Is it really that difficult to believe that, in the future, we’ll be able to measure the energy emitted by highly potent herbs like Belladonna and Arnica?
Since you’re in California, I encourage you to visit Hahnemann Labs, in Marin County. http://www.hahnemannlabs.com/ Their remedies are manufactured in a microchip-grade clean room to ensure that one substance – and only one – is the active ingredient in every remedy.
Given how far you’ve traveled for the other research in your book, you might be surprised what answers you find in your own back yard.
Best wishes, and keep up the amazing work!
December 21st, 2010
5:37 am
I just finished my first once over of the book. Lots of great information that I can’t wait to read over more thoroughly. I have a quick comment for you regarding the Appendices and the Sex Machine II. You mentioned that you tried chelating mercury, but had no results. Do you have any dental fillings? If so, they are constantly releasing mercury into your system and it they make removing mercury very difficult. You can check out the following website for some good information regarding this:
http://www.hugginsappliedhealing.com
December 21st, 2010
6:58 am
Hi Tim,
I’ve started a blog (slobtosuperman.com) where I’ll be documenting the changes to my body as I test out the strategies in your new book. If you new book is as helpful as your first one, I know I’ll achieve my goals! Thanks for all you do!
Kevin
December 21st, 2010
11:02 pm
I’ve already checked it out and will follow. I literally laughed out loud when I saw it!
December 21st, 2010
7:07 am
Best female weight loss advice ever!
Thank you so much for the strong messages about alternative measurements (not just the scale) and monthly cycle. I’m a woman that builds muscle easily and it’s really disheartening. (gave up on BFL prematurely) This time, I’m riding it out and I love the focus on body recomp.
Loving slow carb, which also works with my gluten free and dairy free needs (completely cured my long term depression). It will be too long b4 the dangers of those hit mainstream, so you are doing your part to get more folks healthy!
December 21st, 2010
7:46 am
Any thoughts about the Vit D controversy. Your experience (page 513 of “The 4-Hour Body” and Professor Marshall’s point of view that the Vit D receptor is the gateway to the innate immune system and lower Vit D is part of the protocol that will treat a number of inflammatory diseases that were deemed untreatable?
Tons of information available on http://www.marshallprotocol.com.
Also look at his (scientific?) presentations on Vimeo e.g. http://vimeo.com/17444948
The way you dig up information would be helplful in sorting out the confusion.
December 21st, 2010
8:00 am
That biopsy video is disturbing!
December 21st, 2010
8:13 am
Hi Tim, just noticing there’s a significant inconsistency in your book concerning cinnamon.
Under DAMAGE CONTROL you state that during your binge you consumed 1 tbsp cinnamon in your coffee. However under THE GLUCOSE SWITCH, when explaining types and quantities of cinnamon you stressed the importance of not exceeding 1.5 teaspoons a day. Which would mean you had consumed double that “safe” amount during your binge. Can you please clarify?
Thanks so much. Very interesting book! Good to see you shaking things up. Do you plan to start a 4-Hour Body Challenge website? (Do you know of one?) This would be an AMAZING resource well worth paying for. Count me in! ;-)
December 21st, 2010
11:19 pm
Oops! Typo. 1 tsp is what I should have written in Damage Control. Will correct. Thx!
December 21st, 2010
8:34 am
2 weeks slow carb + planks = body fat 36.5% to 33.5%, but scale weight 215 to 212
December 21st, 2010
11:10 am
Great work on the book. Though I have tried to limit myself to the 97 pages that pertain to me, I cannot help but read the rest, “…Summary: Coolest… Mom… ever…” Whoa!
One subject I was expecting in your book is how to know what we are actually getting with dietary supplements. In the documentary, Bigger Stronger Faster, Chris Bell shows us how easy it is to go into the supplement business with a technically legal, yet bogus product. How can I be sure the jar labeled “L-Glutamine” actually has the effective dose of L-Glutamine I am looking for?
December 21st, 2010
11:25 am
Tim,
As someone that has been fighting weight issues since thyroid cancer caused weight gain in 1994 I ordered your book immediately. I began in April training for triathlons next year and have since dropped 44 pounds on my own, but wish I had your book as a guide when starting. It’s inspirational and cannot wait to try some of the methods. It rocks man, and gives me hope that I can get back to the way I used to be.
By the way, I work at a cancer hospital and shared your book with a few doctors in my area. Amazing how they stick to the old ideas you mention a few times in your book. The idea of “publish or perish” is alive and well around here.
December 21st, 2010
12:10 pm
dear tim,
sorry if this is not the place to write something like this but i didnt know how to contact you in any other way. i just wanted to tell you that i am a fan of your work and that it would be great if you would do a blog entry how to be eco-conscious in your every day life. also am starting my very own 4 hour body project this friday and i´m looking forward to it very much.
ben
December 21st, 2010
1:29 pm
Love your book! I’ve already bought two. I originally bought one as a xmas present for my brother with the awesome idea that I would read it first, take notes and then pass it along to him…
After reading through the first couple of chapters I realized that my original idea was not going to work, plus my husband wants to read it too, so it I ended up ordering a second copy.
December 21st, 2010
1:53 pm
This morning, about 3am when the moon was red, I read the section on Polyphasic sleep. Been enjoying the book and making small mods, but my reaction to this chapter was ‘unsatisfied’. I’ve been doing Everyman Polyphasic for nearly 3 years, off-an-on, and I think it is an amazing hack. If you want to learn more, look for Puredoxyk’s book Ubersleep. Glad to find it in 4HB, but it doesn’t get the treatment it deserves. I’d love to hear more from Tim and his community on this lifestyle-/body-/mind-hack.
December 21st, 2010
2:32 pm
Question for you, If I am on a low calorie diet (1200-1500/ day) would I benefit from cheat meals/days? Or is that only a perk of following the slow carb diet? The slow carb diet is not something I’m ready for, so does periodic calorie spikes keep your body from going into starvation mode on all types of diets?
December 21st, 2010
3:32 pm
Hi, Tim
You should really make a forum or site where your readers can post their “4 hour body” experiences. This blog is (great but) not big enough to accommodate. You know more about setting forums(even a free one) than most people here. It will allow your readers to share tips, comment/critique/encourage each other’s progress, and much more. Not to mention the buzz and publicity it can generate for your book and awesomeness.
Think about it. But hurry before the steam runs out.
David
December 21st, 2010
3:47 pm
I second the idea of a forum. It will alleviate the blog and concentrate information and discussions.
If you do not want to buy another vBulletin license and install it you can use a free one or create a subforum in the 4hww forum.
December 21st, 2010
7:26 pm
Go Tim YEEAAAAaGGH. 25 pills. No wAAAAAAAYYY
December 21st, 2010
7:39 pm
Hi Tim,
I purchased the Harajuku package back on 12/10. I have received Rahmit’s bonus but no other e-bonuses to date. I have been visiting the family, so cannot confirm if the books or other physical products have arrived yet. Thanks for a great promo! I look forward to receiving all of the goodies.
Thanks, Neil
December 21st, 2010
11:01 pm
Hi Neil,
I’ll check on this right now. You should have received.
Thank you for the comment!
Tim
December 22nd, 2010
3:01 am
Same here Tim, I ordered the same package, I also haven’t received my books yet despite being charged, and haven’t received noticed of shipping yet either. But I have already received my first order of 5 from your first promo so it’s all good for now.
I’ve received most of the digital goods except DailyBurn and Evernote. Physical goods I understand that you guys have shipped this week.
December 26th, 2010
6:17 pm
I haven’t received anything either. Please let me know when I can expect it. Thanks Tim and congratulations!
December 21st, 2010
11:59 pm
Hi Tim.
Got the book from Audible. While listening to it the narrator says he will tell the listener how to access a PDF file to demonstrate some areas like the workout more clearly. I listened to it twice and checked my download file. There’s nothing there. Audible cs is completely useless. How can I get the PDF referenced in the audiobook ? Difficult to do the workouts without it.
February 3rd, 2011
2:18 pm
Andreas K.
The PDF document can be found in CD3 as a file in itself. All you need to do is introduce the cd into your computer and explore de CD contents.
Now as far as the Appendices and Extras go, these are nowhere to be found. If anyone knows where this document can be found, please share the info.
December 22nd, 2010
4:45 am
Hey Tim,
Just noticed you’re being plugged on Daily Burn (of course).
Have you thought about setting up one (or several) 4HB tracks there?
December 22nd, 2010
9:38 am
I just got the book, I find alot of diet/nutrition/fitness information out there focuses on weight loss, but ive been lean and slim all my life at 5ft 8, 59kg, with less than 6 percent body fat and a very fast metabolism. Ive been struggling to put on muscle mass since forever with no luck! Its clear that I probably dont eat enough but I was wondering if other than lifting heavy weights, will my cardio, kettlebell, martial arts and yoga training that I do interfere with what I want to achieve in increasing weight and muscle mass? I flicked through the supplements you mentioned which was the usual creatine and Nitric Oxide that every body builder is using, and I like the workouts you give with one set to failure, but since I know nothing about body building I also need advice on what, how and when to eat with a body and metabolism like mine, alot of atheletes tell me eat 5 times a day, small portions with protein etc etc, not easy for people who work. I read about Vernon Davis’ diet in the November 2010 issue of GQ and was wondering if I would have to eat like him. Theres alot of ‘advice’ out there that ive been exposed to so I hope to have everything clarified with information your book finally.
BTW talking about GQ, I am a freelance journalist and was wondering if you be giving any interviews for mens magazines, I would be interested in writing a feature in menshealth on your book hopefully with an interview if possible :-) although I assume you probably have all that covered.
Anyways looking forward to seeing the financial and physical results of both books which I purchased recently together.
thanks
December 22nd, 2010
10:05 am
Hey TIm. I just recevied the book and am having a hard time putting it down.
I do have a few questions:
1. My husnad is a truck driver and packs a lunch every day that consists of two sandwhiches, carrots, celery, almaonds and water. How can he pack a lunch with the Slow Carb Diet that he will be able to eat on the road in his truck? It needs to be a hand to mouth recipe.
2. You mention tomatoes and salsa, can canned stewed tomatoes be used with the chicken and beans?
3. Is there really no whole wheat or whole grains allowed as in wraps or bread?
Thank you so very much! I look forward to begining this journey!
December 25th, 2010
9:03 pm
@Darlene -
1 – I’ve had good luck using a few large leaves of lettuce to make a “wrap”, sometimes with a toothpick or two to hold it together in transit.
2 – yes (Tim mentions canned food being fine somewhere in there)
3 – Correct, if it’s white, or could have been white, (e.g. brown rice vs white), ditch it
3.5 – that said, his book is a toolbox, you can pick and choose what you do, (see a comment elsewhere here that mentions weight loss strictly through the cold shower regimen), but overall the more tools you apply the better the results, (I’m losing a pound a day so far)
January 2nd, 2011
9:29 am
X Thanks!
We are going to start the Lo Carb Diet tomorrow. My husband is about 238lbs LOVES FLAVOR and is having a hard time figuring out what spices/oils he can cook with to make this diet work for him as well as trying to figure out how much he can eat. He does not like being hungry and if he is hungry or doesn’t taste good he will stop. It’s a willpower thing with him or lack thereof. I will have a hard time doing this alone if he gives up.
I am on Facebook (Darlene Kuykendall) if you or anyone else here can friend me to help me along I would greatly appreciate it. (Please message me with the 4 Hour Body in the message.)
Thank you!
December 22nd, 2010
11:39 am
Pre-ordered the book and it arrived a few days ago. Started the slow carb diet two days back!
December 22nd, 2010
12:33 pm
Your are a machine Mr. Ferriss. Even Dolph Lundgren in Rocky 4 couldn’t hold a candle to you.
Keep up the good work.
Cheers from Copenhagen
December 22nd, 2010
1:05 pm
Hi Tim,
Just wanted to say thanks for a fun read. I started following the diet, figuring I’d ramp up a week or so and start the workouts, and this morning someone said, ‘You look different. Have you lost weight or something?’ I guess that says something.
Thanks again,
J
December 22nd, 2010
1:36 pm
Speaking of pills…
Not sure if this is the place, but here goes a question about the PAGG stack:
Got all the goodies for PAGG you list on page 120 (to the letter), but then realized the dosage amounts of what’s on p. 120 are way higher than what you recommend before every meal and bed (page 116 bottom).
Is doing AGG once in the morning and taking P before bed the way to go based on the dosage amounts in the bottles you link to (p. 120), or do you actually take these amounts (which are higher than p. 116) each time you AGG/PAGG? Just don’t want to over or under dose myself here. Thanks.
Basically read the book in one all-night session. Awesome and insane.
December 22nd, 2010
2:14 pm
Tim — *amazing*, revolutionary book! Thanks so much. I’m about 2/3 through it and my biceps are aching from holding up my iPhone while reading it (I’m traveling).
Did you look into Pavel or “Janda” sit-ups? One set of 2-5 reps per session will get you results. You don’t need to buy the contraption either – I use a length of climbing webbing (~$10) around furniture to apply the upward force on the back of the calves, and whatever piece of cord I can find to assist.
December 22nd, 2010
6:48 pm
Those Janda’s look sick after looking it up!
I found this on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDLPFrpZdxM&feature=related
Very informative, and he uses a swiss ball, I’ll try that since I don’t have a pulldown or any other sort of contraption handy. And plus I need to pick one up to do the myotatic crunch anyway.
December 22nd, 2010
2:51 pm
Tim,
Love the book, have read through most of it and looking forward to the rest!
I have a tangential question, but you may have stumbled upon some potential ideas for dealing with it with all your experimentation:
As a fellow MPB “sufferer” has anything you tried decreased (or increased!) hair loss? For example your testosterone boosting experiments… or maybe a supplement you tried made you “hairier” or you met a guru who had some ideas.
Sure, a six pack would be great, but I think nearly all men would sooner have a full head of hair than a six pack… maybe it is not that big an issue for you, but many men would appreciate any experimentation you do in this area!
Thanks for all the awesome info!
December 22nd, 2010
2:56 pm
Hi Tim!
I just finished reading your book and i’ve decided to go with the “Chipotle method”.
Anyway, i’ve got one question:
How necessary, on a scale from one to ten, is PAGG and AGG during bingeing?
I live in a small town in Sweden and i don’t want to drive 20 miles if i can avoid it.
Sincerely, André the Giant.
December 22nd, 2010
2:59 pm
Hey Tim!
I was hoping you could point me in the right direction for purchasing the ultrasound analyzer that you used to test your body fat with. I’m putting a 60-Day Paleo Challenge together for my CrossFit gyms and was going to use this as one of the ways to measure their progress. Any help is greatly appreciated!!
Thanks Tim and keep up the great work!!
All my best,
Nick
December 24th, 2010
10:43 pm
Just google “Intelametrix”! Good luck!
December 22nd, 2010
3:08 pm
Tim,
Do you have a timeline for your ultra? Good luck on the race. I’m a multiple IM finisher and have been thinking about an ultra for a while, but damn that’s gotta hurt. My buddies who have completed them say it’s all mental after the first 30k. I’m sure you’ll have what it takes.
I was tired of waiting for delivery of my pre-order hardcopy of the book here in Canada, so purchased a kindle version to read on my Mac. Of course the hardcopy arrived the same day, lol. I did a marathon reading session and finished it that day. It was worth the wait. Thank you!
December 22nd, 2010
3:38 pm
Hi Tim,
I’m currently enjoying your new book and had a question regarding your vertical. You mentioned you had an improvement of 3 inches. What I’m wondering is – if you had continued those same stretches/exercises would you have seen a greater improvement in that area?
If not, did DeFranco give you any advice in how to go about doing so?
Thanks for your time, and again – I’m really enjoying your new book.
-tam
December 22nd, 2010
3:55 pm
Hi Tim
I ordered 3 copies of your book on the 14th, from Amazon. I never received them. Are they overwhelmed due to a fantastic response?
Tom G Treasure Island S.F.
December 22nd, 2010
4:16 pm
Dear Tim,
I thought about you while I was in the shower today.
While under a stream of SERIOUSLY cold water a la “Ice Age,” I was standing there thinking “EFFING TIM FERRISS!!”
But then I hopped on the scale and found I’ve already dropped 5 pounds in 3 days and lost 1.5 inches off my waist on the Slow-Carb Diet, so I resumed being exceptionally happy with your awesome book. Thank you!!
Sincerely,
Stacy
December 22nd, 2010
6:01 pm
Not a big fan of the title. It feels gimicky. That’s the main reason I did not run out and buy the new book. Superficial but true. With that being said, I am a fan and enjoy reading your thought provoking content.
December 22nd, 2010
7:05 pm
I’m a person who normally gets 8 hours of sleep, but in the interest of time, I would like cut that down and still feel rested when I wake up. I am trying the “Siesta” which has worked relatively well thus far, although there are not always times when I can schedule a nap or even fall asleep for one when I do.
Since polyphasic sleep is tough with most peoples schedules, wouldn’t the answer be to increase REM-to-total sleep? Thus what are thoughts or experiences with a “Siesta” schedule vs just trying to increase REM within 6 (or less) hours of sleep.
December 22nd, 2010
8:22 pm
Tim,
Did you try Phytosterols instead of Policosanol for reducing LDL and increasing HDL? Perhaps it doesn’t have the timing effect issue?
Ryan
December 22nd, 2010
8:54 pm
Also,
The Alpha Lipoic you recommend contains Magnesium sterate, which apparently slows the absorption of the supplement (see http://www.livestrong.com/article/140717-uses-magnesium-stearate/)
Doesn’t matter?
December 22nd, 2010
9:54 pm
Hi Tim,
Great book. Thanks. I’m always amazed at the rich, actionable content you provide. Separately, I’ve seen some negative comments around the Internet regarding your marketing of the book, such as hundreds of positive reviews on Amazon before the book was even released, “bribing” us in various ways (i.e., incentives to buy the book), and deleting negative reviews at Amazon. Have you or will you be addressing these at some time?
Thanks as always.
–Jim
December 24th, 2010
10:40 pm
Hi Jim,
I’ll gladly address all three common critiques now, as I have before:
- I sent out hundreds of review copies up to two months ago. This is common practice and the reviews on Amazon are 100% legit. The attackers don’t understand how publishing works.
- All authors use the resources at their demand to market/sell books. Guinness has an entire WEEK on Regis and Kelly. Ina Garten has a TV show and has bought full displays at retail. I have a blog. Nothing sinister or odd about it.
- Deleting reviews? I have no idea what you’re referring to, as there are a ton of 1-star reviews on Amazon right now. I don’t have the power to delete reviews. If a ton of people report a review as inappropriate, maybe, but I’ve been on launch and — again — don’t even have the power to delete reviews.
Hope that helps,
Tim
December 26th, 2010
8:53 am
Tim,
Thanks for the response.
–Jim
December 22nd, 2010
10:34 pm
Hi! I just bought your newest book, the 4-Hour Body and I have a few questions.
Is it absolutely necessary that i take PAGG and AGG supplements? And Athletic Greens?
Am i am able to eat popcorn or does that break the rules of the diet? (air popping my own popcorn)
Much is appreciated if you are able to answer these questions!
January 12th, 2011
9:11 am
Did you ever get an answer to your question about popcorn???
January 19th, 2011
9:47 pm
unfortunately no ):
do you know anything about it?
December 22nd, 2010
11:25 pm
Hi Tim!
Just received 4HB yesterday and am in the midst of reading it, love it, very impressed ;) You’re crazy, but cute ;)
I have a question regarding supplements:
I’m 5’2″, 100lbs and would like to add muscle but am not sure what supplements I should be using. I’m very healthy and already in pretty good shape and do not have any food allergies that I am aware of. I currently take Juice Plus vitamins, Vitamin C, MSM, and have taken whey protein in the past, but that is about the extent of it.
Any advice is appreciated,
Thanks and Happy Holidays! :)
December 23rd, 2010
12:07 am
Hi Tim I was curious if you’ve ever looked into the emotional process of human beings and the best to handle/process emotions quickly and simply? It’s an area I’m really interested in and I’ve checked out a lot of different fields of psychology and different therapies and I’ve done quite a bit deconstructed/tested them. I’ve found that there’s a lot of crap out there, misinformation, lies, etc. The main goal I had is just to find a way to deal with powerful/upsetting emotions in a simple, effective way so you can live life to the fullest, and not be held back or controlled by unprocessed/suppressed emotions. I’m a pretty perceptive guy and I’ve noticed in our society that a lot of people from all backgrounds in all social areas/institutions carry so much emotional baggage. I really feel that life would be a lot easier and more relaxed for everybody if people could just learn to deal with their baggage. But I’ve found it’s like a maze sifting through all the material out there trying to find the right way to accomplish this goal. Yeah main thing I was just curious if you had ever looked into that area? It could use some hacking/deconstructing.
December 23rd, 2010
12:09 am
Tim,
I’d like to introduce him to Mario Vittone. Mario’s a Coast Guard rescue swimmer and ‘A’ school instructor (The real life Kevin Costner from movie “The Guardian”). Mario rewrote the Navy survival manual on hypothermia after doing experiments on himself in cold water;
http://gcaptain.com/maritime/blog/cold_water/?11198
Plus he’s a great guy.
-John
December 23rd, 2010
12:21 am
Hey Tim!
I read your book and loved it. I’ll soon be applying some of the principles, but I’m first building the habit of tracking. The most important thing that your book taught me is that tracking data is essential. The chapter on body composition is great, but I’m curious how you other track stuff, and was hoping you could elaborate:
1. what is your system for tracking everything that you do?
2. Do you always carry a notebook with you?
3. Do you also track everything in an excel or something?
4. And in your book noticed you also track some qualitative things, such as your libido, do you track these on a daily basis or just try to be very self aware?
Would love it if you could answer these questions!
December 23rd, 2010
2:45 am
Hi Tim!
Quick Question: How important is the PAGG stack for getting a six pack if I follow everything else you recommend?
e.g. low-carb diet, sauerkraut, cinnamon and lemon juice, six min. abs…
Because I just checked the prices on Ebay and Amazon and it would cost me a small fortune!
btw I’m loving the book!
December 24th, 2010
10:31 pm
Hi David,
If you get the diet and exercise right, you do not need PAGG to get the six-pack!
Good luck!
Tim
December 26th, 2010
2:46 am
Thank You!
December 23rd, 2010
4:19 am
Hey Tim,
just got your book here back in Paris, France. Amazon made it and finally I didn’t had to pay all the post from the US.
I have to say, I’m impressed, it’s quite massive this one! It’s a lifetime work !!! Keep up the great work :)
Joyeuses Fêtes
Merci
Miguel
December 23rd, 2010
7:58 am
Hey Tim,
I am still trying to finish the 4HWW before the 4HourBody. WOW! I can’t believe how thick that book is….WOW!
I am going to buy a book or two more to give away at Christmas, but y’now if you give it away they don’t appreciate it as much.
*Can I still get the bonuses? Please keep us posted if you beat Guinness Book!
December 23rd, 2010
9:03 am
I bought this book on the recommendation of a blog that was pounding it for being BS. Having read the 4 hour work week and subscribed to 80% of it ;) I think that the 4 hour body was a natural fit into my growing library.
The thing is that this book appears easy to follow. If a book on diet/nutrition or anything exercise, you have to be able to have the conversation where people ARE. If you cannot do that then you ain’t got sh*t IMO.
Tim you have done that here (not the sh*t part). I felt like you were talking to me where I am. So that is why I will implement the strategies in this book even though I am 41 and will be 42 soon. I want to live longer than my father (died at age 47) and his father (died at age 43). So the genes would yell that I am due pretty soon. I call BS and part of this is because of what you say in this book.
December 23rd, 2010
11:35 am
Followed the original blog post and lost weight using this diet over a year ago, and am back on it now to trim down again. Love the book so far! Just finished the Glucose Switch and have a question: if blood glucose levels aren’t affected until hours after eating, why is eating a meal quickly still a problem? Isn’t it all in the same place after 2 hours? (This orca isn’t so good at that either!)
December 23rd, 2010
1:32 pm
I just got done listening to your interview with Shoemoney. Great! Great! interview. I’ve never heard about you until that interview. I’m definitely buying your book! Sounds like this will definitely help me.
December 23rd, 2010
2:45 pm
Been listening to the audio book back to back. I also love the fact that you are recommending organics. Both your books are so inspiring and truly change the way people think. Thanks Tim! My co-founder and I aspire to meet you!
December 23rd, 2010
2:53 pm
Wow, that’s really extreme. And inspiring at the same time :) Thank you for your books. I really love them!
December 23rd, 2010
3:15 pm
I’ll buy the book if you stop shoving huge needles into your leg. I give blood on a regular basis and even those needles creep me out.
December 23rd, 2010
7:59 pm
…I weighed in at Weight Watchers yesterday. Yes!! Still on Lifetime!
Thinking of Tim’s ‘cheat day’ concept, I decide to ‘cheat’!
…not easy, the house has been pretty much cleared out of junk food :P Sugar free chocolates, Kashi chewy TLC bars, Fiber One bars have to do. Yay! Haven’t had them in a while because of low-carbing. (had lots of water, too.)
…
next morning, I kid you not. I’ve lost 1 lb.
I still don’t know what I did! (and I swore heartily, trying to figure it out.) Was it the boiled eggs? Was it the cayenne pepper I had with them because I didn’t have salt? Was it the air squats, or the pseudo-ballet exercises because I was thinking of “Black Swan”? Was it the extra trips I made around my building, making deliveries? Was it laying on my ice-cold bathroom floor for as long as I could stand it? or, or–??
I’m laughing out loud writing this, because I find it hilarious that *something* seems to have worked, and trying to figure out how to replicate it.
December 23rd, 2010
8:13 pm
25 pills????????? that’s amazing………
December 23rd, 2010
8:29 pm
If I can’t afford the Blue Ice and want to use cod liver and butter seperately how much of each do I take. I assume 2 cod liver capsules. How much butter do I need daily and when?
thanks!
December 23rd, 2010
8:46 pm
I’ve read the book and LOVE IT. Just started on the workout and geek to freak diet/workout yesterday. (also tried the ice bath for 10 minutes)
One question how often per week to perform the cat vomit and myotatic crunch?!
Love the book!!!
December 23rd, 2010
9:04 pm
Tim, thanks so much for the 4HB. Lots of great information. I’m taking notes on my progress and will write an Amazon review once I can attest to results.
Quick question. I am way out of shape, and am focusing on slow carb and KB swings for now. Rehab later, and weight lifting not for a while. But, as I said, I’m way out shape. On my third KB workout I could only handle 3 sets of 10 swings each.
What would you recommend for a weekly schedule at this stage? I’d like to get up to the 2/week, 75 rep workouts you recommend as quickly as I can (in good health). And if I’m tired after doing by 3 by 10, should I do another 10-20 once I’m rested or just call it a night? Thanks.
December 23rd, 2010
10:20 pm
Hey Brock..doing KB’s for the first time can be confusing…Tim got a certification, actually 2…He is RKC2 through Pavel’s Cert program..the mad russian…anyway, he wrote a really good book called “Enter the Kettlebell” and one of his other instructors wrote Kettlebells for Dummies…both really good books and you can pick them up anywhere especially at http://www.dragondoor.com Hope that helps..
December 23rd, 2010
10:25 pm
Man Tim…I know you said to read the book as a buffet..but I ended up reading the whole thing in 2 days! It was really awesome and the science was on point! Right now I am trying to figure out the slow carb diet while trainig for a marathon and doing KB’s I have to tell you that all of it was so awesome…and when I told my wife that I wanted to try something out on her that I read in the book…Let’s just say..smile is worth a 1,000 chapters :D thanks again…also, I am still trying to figure out my muse! LOL Now you added some other fuel to think about
December 23rd, 2010
11:57 pm
Hello Tim,
I have been enjoying your new book and have started to try a few things out.
In regards to the Slow Carb Diet, were there any trials on less time between cheat days?
For instance ‘maybe’ 4 days would work as well as 6 or even better? ..or perhaps 108 hours or maybe the binge should last 10 hours 4 minutes hours…anyways; hopefully, you get the point. I am curious because a 7 day cycle seems either suspicious, convenient, or elegant depending on the actual answer.
In an attempt to sandwich a potential criticism (it is not meant to be) I will close this saying how much I am enjoying not only this book but I still look at your last book for inspiration.
Take care,
John S
December 24th, 2010
2:26 am
I just recently read (most of) “Four Hour Body” and was wondering what the full list of supplements you take are?
December 24th, 2010
3:46 am
Tim, read the Fat Loss chapter and jumped into action, quick question:
(Week 1) First 6 days on slow-carb: 196.2 to 190.2 lbs and 22.2 to 20.5 BF %
(Week 2) Then after the 7th day (binge day), the next 6 days: 193 to 188.4 lbs and 21.3 to 23 BF %.
It seems on Week 2, my BF % is going up and weight is going down, even my measurements (waist, arms, hips, thighs) haven’t altered by more than 1cm, which I contribute to my inconsistent use of the measuring tape.
Any idea what’s going on here? At first glance it may seem that I’m losing muscle, and gaining fat (!)
December 24th, 2010
5:02 pm
Tim,
I just fished the first hour workweek and am super inspired to create a muse and start generating income.
Here’s the problem: I’m 17, almost 18 years old.
Do you have any tips on increasing credibility, or using my age to my advantage?
I loved your book. Thanks so much.
Logan
December 24th, 2010
6:14 pm
Tim,
I’ve been devouring sections of The 4-Hour Body (awesome read so thanks you!) and I decided to Google “Effortless Superhuman”. Your book received most of the top search results but I also found this guy Garin Bader. I don’t know anything about him or his credibility. Have you heard of him and do you know anything about the guy?
December 24th, 2010
6:29 pm
Looks like you hit #1 in the NYT bestsellers… congratulations!! I’m looking forward to reading my copy. I’m having my parents ship mine from Texas to Oz b/c I don’t have the patience to wait till it’s released here. Launch party planned here in Sydney by any chance? If so, can I impose to be on that list? ;-)
Cheerz
L
December 24th, 2010
9:44 pm
Tim, you’ve helped distil so many things that I’ve never put into words. Self Experimentation, the act of having an intention and recording your trial and errors until you get it right is fundamentally how we all learn to walk for example. It’s amazing what you’ve started, a coordinated, colaborated effort of syndicated shared best practices that will allow us to get rapid results in any area of our lives. Just brilliant. What a concept. I love it.
Keep up the great work Tim, let us know if there are other great ways to share knowledge about your book and encourage others to buy. Maybe make a wordpress widget that gives a little random content/exerpt from the book with a link to buy or something :D
To your continued success!
and Merry Christmas!
Darren
December 25th, 2010
1:30 pm
Hey Tim
I stayed up reading all night! Biggest question to the diet part is can I have corn tortillas if they are 100% Corn?
Second, I think Im in love you with you and all your insanity!
You are crazy and clear and its so carefree and alluring!
Come meet me for dinner in LA on a binging Saturday!
I sent one earlier and just read to use my name and it auto fills the other way, so im signing here!
Jackie B
December 25th, 2010
3:09 pm
I purchased the hard cover on 12/14/10, now when I go to get the PDF’s. the form is not accesssable for me to fill out. I still have my receipt. Am I missing something?
THX
December 25th, 2010
10:39 pm
Tim,
I just finished the book. I had pre-ordered an electronic copy from BN.com, and then bought one hardcover copy for each of my three adult children. I’ve recommended it to everyone I know and have tweeted about it several times already. I’m convinced this book will change all our lives, and I am very grateful. Thank you!
I have a few questions:
1. You mention passwords in the book to read extra articles. Where are these located in both the ebooks and printed versions?
2. I have severe esophageal strictures that make meat and certain fibrous veggies (kale, etc) very difficult to eat. Liquids are highly prized. Any advice on modifying Slow-Carb to accommodate?
3. If that isn’t bad enough, due to an injury in adolescence it is virtually impossible for me to get blood drawn (injury causing #2 is also responsible for this). A cut-down or central line are the only ways left. Are there any other methods for gaining the frequent test results you recommend?
I studied to be a midwife for 3 years and iron levels are a constant problem for pregnant women. Nothing a doctor recommends works well. I wanted to share a miracle-worker for increasing hemoglobin levels. Taking yellow-dock root tincture before consuming iron-rich whole foods (spinach, meat, etc) raised my levels from anemic to mid-range normal in 2 weeks. This can literally be a life-saver in late pregnancy.
When you get ready to write your book on pregnancy and childbirth, please let me know – I have a lot of ideas for you. I predict that this area will be another fertile area for you to “buck the system”.
Thank you again, and congratulations on your success.
Kelly Bell
December 26th, 2010
11:17 am
Thanks so much for the comment, Kelly! To answer:
1. Bonuses coming soon.
2. I would recommend a blender/smoothie of greens and unflavored whey protein, to start. If possible, I’d add some fat to this, like smooth almond butter. As always, speak with your doctor.
3. There are decent saliva-based alternatives to many of these tests, which you should be able to find through a good “holistic” health center (though I dislike that word) that also hires MDs.
Good luck!
Tim
December 26th, 2010
9:00 am
I MADE THIS SCREEN SAVER FOR ANYONE THAT NEEDS REMINDING LIKE I DO! ITS SAYS, “SHOOT YOUR FOOD”
YOUR WELCOME 4 HOUR BODY PEOPLE!
JACKIE B
December 26th, 2010
11:06 am
Jackie, where is the screensaver?
December 26th, 2010
11:29 am
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=487940566763&set=a.447886551763.250959.91619021763
here it is, it didnt load for some reason thru photobucket, try this one
December 26th, 2010
7:37 pm
I’ve watched with amazement at some of your self experimentation videos. Kudos to you for having the courage to do this. Hope there are no long term effects.
December 27th, 2010
9:36 am
Came home to a wonderful greeting, two copies laying on my front step! One is for a friend who’s a professional track and field athlete. I promptly ordered a 3rd copy to give to another friend for his b-day. Wish you the best of luck on your record setting efforts!
I do have one quick question though. I’ve been interested in purchasing one of those little home cholesterol testers. I play around with a lot of tweaks to my diet and would like to publish results / performance of each on in terms of cholesterol. What’s a good approach / equipment?
I’m also looking into setting up a sleep study any recommended equipment there would be greatly appreciated… Perhaps all this is in your book? I’ve not got terribly far in the reading yet. if so I apologize in advance.
December 27th, 2010
1:04 pm
This should appeal to you, Tim: http://www.startingstrenght.com. A no-nonsense approach to strenght training that allowed me to gain 40lbs in 12 weeks of training, whilst reducing my BF from 12 to 9%. Just the basics, 3days/week. Squats/deadlifts/presses/awesomeness.
Worth taking a look!
December 28th, 2010
6:43 pm
Mark’s a smart guy, for sure. I really enjoyed his book on programming.
December 27th, 2010
1:30 pm
Really cannot say enough about your book. I just finished the Pre-hab section and this is a key chapter for everyone and I hope people don’t overlook it. It will be extremely helpful yet challenging for me. This is the section where I will do so much work and self experimentation.
December 28th, 2010
1:33 am
howcome i didnt get back to my rebound weight after 48 hours?!
December 28th, 2010
9:06 am
I’m considering experimenting with d-aspartic acid… what are your thoughts? Have you supplemented with it previously?
December 28th, 2010
9:07 am
My fiancee and I just started doing the PAGG system and trying the best amount of low carb I can do (I don’t eat meat or soy) and even the decaffinated green tea pills are making me crazy jittery and unable to sleep at night. Can you cut down to just:
AG
AGG
AG
PAG
or is it not worth taking the mix if you don’t take the whole mix?
December 28th, 2010
6:08 pm
Sooz, this is fine. Don’t use anything that produces an adverse reaction, and please be sure to consult your doctor as needed.
December 28th, 2010
9:16 am
Tim, I understand you’ve already received questions about the PAGG protocol, especially about how much mg of Allicin to take. I’m in the UK, so I don’t have access to the brand of garlic supplements you mentioned in the book, but I’ve found Allicin supplements of 12mg per tablet. Can you specify how much Allicin to take a day or with meals?
I’m sure you’ll continue to get questions on this due to the nature of the book: how small targeted changes can produce enormous results e.g. MED. When you have specific instructions about how much mg of a specific supplement to take, e.g ALA, but leave the mg of Garlic/Allicin supplement hazy, you’ll undoubtedly get questions to clarify the amount.
When you get the chance, could you address this in a blog post or twitter or even here to clarify this?
P.S. I am SO looking forward to the MED approach to penis extension… will it ever be coming? =)
December 28th, 2010
6:07 pm
It’s not too hazy… I just made it confusing! The 725mg for green tea (I think that’s right) only includes around 325mg of EGCG, which is what we are looking for, but some assumed the 725mg was for the EGCG, which it is not. If you use the supplements linked to in the resources, or something close, it should have the desired effect.
Good luck!
Tim
December 28th, 2010
7:29 pm
I guess Tim doesn’t need ‘self-experimentation’ on penis extension! Nonetheless, it’s a topic worth writing about (others can experiment!)
I.e. Alot of us would like to know the MED for this!
December 28th, 2010
10:39 am
Tim,
Congrats on creating another #1 best-seller, you deserve it.
On a different note, I saw your presentation on this website about learning how to efficiently swim and speak Japanese a while back. At the end, you mentioned something about being interested in reforming the educational system and starting various schools using your method.
I am currently in graduate school to become a school counselor and am extremely interested in this subject of education reform as well. I was wondering where I could find some of the information you used to develop your methods?
Thanks a lot and keep doing what you do. Great job.
Cam
December 28th, 2010
3:24 pm
[...] #1 New York Times bestsellers The 4-Hour Body and The 4-Hour Workweek. In his spare time, Tim has doctors stab pen-sized needles into his thighs.Ah, social media marketing. Fewer things are so lavishly spent on, yet so poorly measured.Here are [...]
December 28th, 2010
4:33 pm
On the slow carb diet, do you take Athletic Greens every day or only on your cheat day?
December 28th, 2010
5:51 pm
I take it at least three days a week, especially when trying to avoid colds and flu, as is true now in the winter.
Tim
December 28th, 2010
7:06 pm
Pretty sure you won’t see this but just wanted to say “Thanks!” I was on the free book(s) list and just received my books today. Haven’t had a chance to read beyond the Intro yet but my 4 weeks are up and I’m due to switch my program up. Can’t wait to get started.
Maybe see you at MC.
Thanks again!
December 29th, 2010
9:44 am
Tim,
I bought the audio version of the 4 hour body and the reader kept referring to items that were in the book but not on the audio. I have downloaded the PDF file but that only covers the workout info.
Help.
Bruce
January 9th, 2011
8:34 pm
Hi Bruce,
That SUCKS. I’ll help to get it fixed. Can you please specify what he was referring to that wasn’t included? That’s really lame. I’m sorry.
Best,
Tim
December 29th, 2010
4:13 pm
The book seems great! Just a quick question.
I have some minor stretch marks already (nothing too bad), and I am not that muscular. Would something like Occam’s protocol possibly lead to significant stretch marks (I know everyone is different). Do you have any tips to minimize/eliminate/avoid these?
December 29th, 2010
4:37 pm
Hi Tim,
Love the book! I’m recommending it to everyone I think can benefit from “out-of-the-box” thinking.
One question: How do I determine if a food is slow-carb? I am assuming it is based on Glycemic Index/Glycemic Load, but what is your cutoff point?
Thanks!
December 30th, 2010
8:54 am
I can personally vouch for diet being a factor in acne. I won’t say it’s the only factor, but for me it was the most obvious one. I had a terrible acne problem all through my teen years. I think back and I also happened to drink a gallon of milk about every two days. I have been relatively acne-free for the last 5 years or so due to the following diet changes: eating less dairy, taking a high-quality multi-vitamin/mineral/phytonutrient supplement, and eating more all natural foods. A good skin care system helps, but it won’t fix the problem. I notice today if I eat an increase in dairy or added sugar/junk foods I will get break-outs. It’s cause and effect for me. As a matter of fact I have a mini-breakout right now because I binged on sodas and sweets over the holidays! Therefore, I would encourage you, if you have trouble with acne, try some diet self-experimentation and stop wasting hundreds of dollars on proactiv or prescription medication. Think for yourself and question everything.
December 30th, 2010
10:20 am
Tim, early on in your book you cite 4,082 calories per pound of fat. I go through serious calorie counting about 1 month every 6 just to maintain a good feel. My BMR is around 2100 last I checked. I’ve always heard the number 3,500… Just do a quick google search for “how many calories in a pound of fat” and you’ll see what I mean. For many people the 582 calories can be a whole meal! At 6’7″ and 215lbs, thats not the case for me. I’m planning on using your book to guide a bulk up to about 225, and then focusing on strength and more importantly, endurance.
Any thoughts as to why the seemingly more common 3,500 is lower than yours?? Is it due to a difference in pure calorimetery and the biochemical process perhaps? Would be cool, since this is in a GA section, to differentiate the numbers.
January 9th, 2011
8:21 pm
I can explain. My math is based on 100% pure fat calories, a pure lb. of fat grams. In reality, a pound of fat TISSUE will have water and other stuff that lowers it to the more common 3,500 calorie count.
Hope that helps!
Tim
December 30th, 2010
10:35 am
Hey Tim,
Great book…started the diet 3 days ago and i’m down 4 lbs already. Could you comment quickly on a couple things:
1) on antibiotics right now…is yogurt a show stopper and if not, any recommendations ? greek, low sugar etc
2) the beans are killing me….i feel like the overflow burner on an oil-derrick…any suggestions other than buy stock in beano ? ( i use all canned beans)
December 30th, 2010
3:33 pm
Tim,
Regarding butter oil/cod liver oil combo from the book…
So my options are $50/month for the Blue Ice pills you suggest… or else individually taking cod liver and irish butter at the same time? How much Irish butter and how should I take it?
On another note, I’ve seen dozens of questions regarding 4HB on this blog, and although I see the value in keeping everything in one place, it really seems like the comment section of blog postings has some serious shortcomings…. especially considering 4HB is starting a whole new community of health discussion that is a bit more focused than general “Lifestyle Design.”
Just something to consider. Your book mentions a general goal of producing self-experimenters, and it would be great to have some community tools to facilitate that.
January 8th, 2011
8:21 pm
Hi Jon,
Working on the community tools as we speak. Totally agreed. If you can afford the Blue Ice, I’d suggest going that route. I’m not sure on exact dosing of the butter.
Best,
Tim
December 31st, 2010
11:32 am
Tim, how did you choose which supplement manufacturers to use? Why Dymatize in this case?
December 31st, 2010
5:53 pm
Tim,
Thanks for the best lifehacking book I’ve ever read! In fact, it’s the ONLY lifehacking book I would recommend to others. It’s the perfect book for geeks. Simple step-by-step guide backed by real data from experiments! Love it!
My wife and I are about to get started on our 4 weeks Slow-Carb diet plan. We went grocery shopping today to prepare for our week #1. And it was so fun to come up with creative ways to enjoy our meals while staying within slow-carb food list.
Few questions now. We are Koreans and would like to know if we can still continue enjoying Korean dishes. Currently, we are not sure if we are allowed to consume following stuff. If so, then we can pretty much continue eating same great food we’ve been enjoying (sans steamed rice, of course). Are these ok?
- Tofu
- Sesame Oil (mostly for stir frying)
- Sweat Potato
- Pork Belly
- Red Pepper Paste/Korean Chilli Paste (http://www.amazon.com/korean-food-supply-Sunchang-Gochujang/dp/B002WTE0MQ/ref=dp_cp_ob_gro_image_1)
- Fermented Soybean Paste/Miso
- Sour Cream
- Almonds, Walnut
For now, we are going to keep it simple and just pick from the list you provided in the book.
Again, thanks for great book! Can’t wait to start feeling great!
January 1st, 2011
12:13 am
Love this book!! Got it for Christmas from my wife. I wanted it for the mass gain and strength gain chapters but got soooo much more from it.
Could you use different polyphasic sleep cycles for different days of the week?
Could the Sex Machine I chapter be applied to strength/muscle building as well? As it applies to increasing testosterone.
Thank you for writing this book and being a guinea pig for all of us.
Kevin F.
January 1st, 2011
12:43 pm
Tim,
I have really enjoyed both of your books now and put much of it into practice. I have a question about the diet for someone doing the “Effortless Superhuman” work out. I noticed in the mass gaining sections you mention the addition of dairy and carbs at certiain times for optimal results.
The question is: can someone doing strength/speed training work outs successfully use the slow-carb diet?
January 1st, 2011
1:06 pm
Quick question Tim. I am very interested in learning what you do about breaking things down or deconstructing them so they are easier to accomplish or at least doable. Do you have any book recommendations to push me in the this direction?
On a side note, I think I read on your blog somewhere that you had a “decompression time” right before bed of a book of favorite fiction. Do you have a list of your favorite books for this? I am guessing it really does not matter, but I am curious to see if perhaps some of these might not have lessons in and of themselves. Kind of an education while being entertained to feed the subconscious mind during sleep.
Thanks man.
January 1st, 2011
2:21 pm
Hi Tim, same as you say in the video, I also have had problems swallowing pills since I was a kid. embarrasingly, I still have to take pills with a banana, and im now in my twenties!
how did you learn to take pills, and so many at a time?
cheers
January 1st, 2011
7:33 pm
Hey Tim, if you are in “experiment” mode, you should try (on binge day) drinking mate after the water has cooled off and it is more lukewarm – temperature room. I have experienced that I “go to the bathroom for number two” much more quicker than when the mate is hot. You know how mate in Argentina is drunk with almost boiling water. If you let the water sit for a while until it reaches room temperature ( about 65 F), you will probably experience that the food will get out of your system quickly, to put it in a diplomatic way. So far I have followed the slow carb I chapter, and that is all I need for the time being. I have lost considerable weight, I now fit into clothes I had “outgrown” (or out-eaten). thanks!
Ramiro
January 1st, 2011
8:48 pm
Anyone have ideas on how to treat a diabetic low glucose while staying on the slo-carb diet? Only been doimg it for a day or two and I have been using honey, but it is inconvienient to make beans everytime you go low to be sure you have a complex carb. Sorry if I’m not being too creative, but I could really use y’alls help in figuring out how to tackle this issue.
I’ll post anything I think of in the meantime.
January 1st, 2011
10:05 pm
Tim,
After I got your book, I started combining the section increasing testosterone, originally intended for the sex chapter and used it for building muscle and have had great results. The increased testosterone make my workouts more effective and I see better results in a shorter amount of time. If you are interested, I can send you some quantitative data to back it up. Thanks for a great book.
January 2nd, 2011
1:18 pm
I read the book in two days. I admire your outstanding research. You really committed yourself 100% to the project and it shows.
So, here’s the thing. I don’t eat eggs. Maybe you could work on breakfast menus for people like me who think “cat vomit” when they see eggs.
You advise what most other diets advise…cut out simple carbs and exercise. The only thing you advised that I have never heard before is to cut out fruit. I am going to do that. I have started a spreadsheet so I can chart my weight. I have a goal of 35lbs. in 5 months. I also took pics of myself and measurements. Wish me luck.
January 2nd, 2011
8:40 pm
Tim,
No idea what I was looking for on amazon and I came across your book-bought it-LOVED IT. thank you for explaining to me how the six months training for my first half ironman (Savageman) I ran less than 30 times, and ran with ease finishing the 13.1 at 2:15. oh yea-and I was drinking scotch the night before
cheers
eliminating the unnecessary
Mike
January 2nd, 2011
9:02 pm
????????
?????
?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????2-4?????????????????????????????????????/?????????????????????????
?????
?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????PLC???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
?????
1?????????????????????????
2???????????
3???????????????????????????
4?????????????????????????????
???????
????????????????)
??????? ????? :?6- ?20mm ??2-15mm (?)
2.5-10mm??? 0.8—3.5mm(?)
?????100~160????????180~250??????? ???????????????
????? ?0.05?
???AC220V
???450W????200W???
?????0.5Mpa (???????)
?????1100×800×1250mm????700×650×1100mm???
????230kg????145kg???
——————————————————————–
January 3rd, 2011
10:33 am
Amazing book!!! im one week into the lowcarb diet, lost 5lbs, have more energy, and not addicted to coffee as before!!
Thanks!!
Quick question: Can I still take a Coq10 and antioxidant pills in the low carb diet?
Thanks!!
Josh
January 4th, 2011
7:55 am
I’m just curious – Why would anyone want or need to swallow 25 pills at once?
Seems like more of a circus stunt than a valuable contribution to public health knowledge.
January 9th, 2011
12:10 am
Yep, circus stunt.
January 4th, 2011
9:29 am
Hey Tim,
Just have a few things for you:
1. I almost vomited my slow carb meal up when I watched both the pills video and the biopsy tube video. Glad you chose to be a human science experiment so we don’t have to!
2. I’m pretty sure I’m in love with you.
3. I am on day 3 of slow carb and feeling great. I’m a female, and I didn’t read the female orgasm chapter but I made my man-friend read it and I will be succinct on this subject, but: thank you!
4. (Serious question) regarding PAGG: I have been taking a 1000mg Flax Seed Oil supplement instead of pure ALA. It contains 550mg of ALA which is more than your recommended 100-300mg. Is this okay or will the additional fatty acids in the Flax Seed hurt me (LA, OA, and Palmitic Acid)? Also, my garlic is 500mg (you recommend 250mg) and my green tea only has 200mg of EGCC (you recommend 325mg). Am I better off just buying new supplements with the exact requirements in your book, or can I continue with these varieties?
Thanks, Tim! Congratulations on your phenomenal success.
-Hailey
January 9th, 2011
12:20 am
Hi Hailey,
Thanks for the comment! The supplements and amounts you mentioned are fine and should help the cause.
Good luck!
Tim
January 4th, 2011
2:15 pm
Tim, huge fan, Congrats on # 1.
Been self experimenting for 20 years (insert joke), and wanted to share my addendum to the slow carb diet. 90% of the overweight public should follow your plan exactly as is.
However if you are looking to lose the last 5-10 and you are ALREADY STRICT in your diet (already low carb, Intermittent Fasting, etc) this is what worked for me. It’s basically the slow carb with a few minor tweaks.
I call it the LA Protocol: http://epicfaileconomy.com/2011/01/04/ferriss-annotated-slow-carb-diet-if-you-are-not-already-obese/
I’m not selling anything here, just wanted to add my 2 cents and share my appreciation for what I believe to be the Bible of health and fitness.
Cheers and Thank You,
Brian
January 4th, 2011
4:01 pm
Hi Tim,
Just got my copy of 4HB – already engrossed :) I love everything health/fitness related and your work inspires me to do greater levels of research and self-experimentation which I will pass on to family, friends and clients alike. I have been a muscle biopsy guinea pig during my sport science student days – before and after a cycling time trial to look at the effects of interval cycling training and on muscular fuel usage/adaptation – so I feel your pain :)
Thanks for the incredible resource and cheers to a fantastic super human 2011.
January 4th, 2011
6:13 pm
Hi,
I’m about to start using PAGG and I’m confused about how much to use it, because in the main PAGG section it says to use it 3x a day, 6 days a week, with a week off every two months, however on the “binge day” example, it’s only used twice, said because the eating was minimal. So should how many times I take it depend on how much I eat? I would love clarification with this.
Also I got the Super Cx to take with it, and I want to be 100% clear as to how often to take this. Do I only take it on binge days?
If you or any of the readers can help me out with this I’d be most appreciative –
Thank you! And Thank you for writing the 4-hour Body!
January 5th, 2011
10:51 am
hi Tim,
Have you ever gained a lot of body fat to see how fast you could lose it?
Matt
PS great job with the book.
January 5th, 2011
11:41 am
Hi Tim,
I’m on week 2 of the slow-carb diet, and while last week I felt satisfied after meals, this week, after each meal, while I’ll have a very high amount of veggies, protein an beans or lentils, (like for breakfast today I had three whole eggs, broccoli, cauliflower, and a half can of beans with some salsa). I’ll eat until I’m stuffed with that, but then I’m still hungry for sugar/carbs. I’ll wait, but then I get almost starving feeling within 30 minutes for sugar/carbs. Is this something that will hopefully pass? Maybe I’m just breaking an addiction to sugar/carbs? Please tell me this will go away.
thank you!!
January 5th, 2011
11:01 pm
Hello Tim-
It would be interesting and maybe time saving to use my non-invasive brief body age test for your work and for those wanting individual feedback on how their changes impact physical age. Some day soon I would like to market the units but for now access is free from the manual in my book: “Growing Younger: How to Measure and Change Body Age”. I would guess you have added many years to your life at this point. Best, Robert Morgan
January 7th, 2011
6:11 am
What you did is very interesting. me too I like to work on my body but not in so drastic way.I like to think of my body as a tool to accomplish my wills. The problem is that the body is much more flexible than the mind, so what blocks us are our thoughts.
January 7th, 2011