Charles is here on a weekly basis to help you cut through the B.S. and get some real perspective regarding health and training. Please post feedback or questions to Charles directly in the comments below this article.
I wonder if you have seen this popular meme? It implies that even the statue of David would become obese if it resided in the United States, due to the prevalence of the evil American fast food industry.
Obesity and The Blame Game
The take-home message is that if you’re fat, the blame belongs not to you, but to the companies who made the food you chose to eat. Further, the fast food industry not only made you eat their food, but they also pulled off a much greater feat – they figured out how to make you eat too much of their food. This is the real reason you’re fat, since it’s been shown you can certainly lose weight eating nothing but fast food.
Let’s put aside the quality versus quantity issues for a moment and consider the state of affairs in America. Even though a lot of press is directed toward the almost endless unhealthy eating possibilities that exist here, almost no attention is directed toward the equally large number of healthy eating options that are also available to consumers. Whether you’re into paleo, IIFYM, low-carb, high-carb, intermittent fasting, vegetarianism, or whatever else, it’s easier to eat the way you want in the U.S. than anywhere else.
Given this fact, if our eating behavior is simply riding on the wave of the U.S. food industry, it would seem equally likely that we’d be eating these healthy foods.
It’s All a Choice
The truth is, even though we have almost endless opportunities for what we can call unproductive eating, we are not victims of the choices that surround us. Sure, we’re all influenced by our surroundings, but in the end, we’re free to make our own decisions. When most of us want reliably inexpensive, tasty food – the free market responds accordingly.
“Be grateful that everything you need to be your greatest possible self, from information, to healthy food, to social support, are all within easy reach in this great nation we live in.”
It should also be noted that there is no absolute consensus for what constitutes healthy foods. At least one notable nutrition coach (Eric Helms) has noted, “There is no such thing as a bad food, only a bad diet.” People who favor the banning of specific foods or ingredients should remember that such legislation will be overseen by the federal government – the same entity that brought you the DMV, the local post office, and lest you forgot, the USDA Food Pyramid.
An Attitude of Gratitude
If I might be so bold as to propose a more productive approach, assuming you live in the U.S., how about this? Instead of bitching about all the fast food companies out there, be grateful for the endless opportunities available to you. Be grateful that you have a nearly limitless, affordable supply of safe, healthy, affordable food choices. Be grateful that your eating options are only minimally determined by your government. And finally, be grateful that everything you need to be your greatest possible self, from information, to healthy food, to social support, are all within easy reach in this great nation we live in.
Hey, it’s just a thought.
This Week’s Training
Volume: 53,690 Pounds (Last Week’s Volume: 46,637 Pounds)
Significant Performances:
- Squat: 380×1
- Bench Press: 255×1
So I managed to increase my volume a bit from last week. I hit a pretty good 380 squat and pulled off a 255 bench, but my deadlift was in the toilet this week for whatever reason – hit a tough 455. I probably had another ten or fifteen in me, but not my strongest week for pulls.
In general, I think I’ve been testing a bit more than training lately, so you’ll notice that on Friday, I did 5×2 with 225 on the bench just to get back into training mode.
My shoulder has been better as of late, and my knee is hanging in there, so no complaints on the orthopedic front this week.
That’s pretty much it for this week. Have a look at the videos if you have a moment, and as always, I love getting your comments and questions, so keep them comin’.
Monday, October 12, 2015
Bodyweight: 201 Pounds
Volume: 15,650 Pounds
Squat
- Set 1: 45 lbs × 5
- Set 2: 45 lbs × 5
- Set 3: 95 lbs × 5
- Set 4: 95 lbs × 5
- Set 5: 135 lbs × 5
- Set 6: 185 lbs × 3
- Set 7: 225 lbs × 2
- Set 8: 225 lbs × 2
- Set 9: 275 lbs × 1
- Set 10: 135 lbs × 3
- Set 11: 225 lbs × 1
- Set 12: 315 lbs × 1
- Set 13: 350 lbs × 1
- Set 14: 380 lbs × 1 (Video Below)
RDL
- Set 1: 135 lbs × 6
- Set 2: 185 lbs × 6
- Set 3: 225 lbs × 6
- Set 4: 275 lbs × 6
- Set 5: 275 lbs × 6
45° Back Extension
- Set 1: 150 lbs × 8
- Set 2: 150 lbs × 8
- Set 3: 150 lbs × 8
Tuesday, October 13, 2015
Bodyweight: 200.8 Pounds
Volume: 10,345 Pounds
Bench Press
- Set 1: 135 lbs × 5
- Set 2: 135 lbs × 5
- Set 3: 185 lbs × 4
- Set 4: 225 lbs × 1
- Set 5: 245 lbs × 1
- Set 6: 255 lbs × 1
- Set 7: 245 lbs × 1
- Set 8: 245 lbs × 1
Seated Row
- Set 1: 150 lbs × 8
- Set 2: 150 lbs × 8
- Set 3: 150 lbs × 8
- Set 1: 130 lbs × 8
- Set 2: 150 lbs × 8
- Set 3: 150 lbs × 8
Thursday, October 15, 2015
Bodyweight: 201.6 Pounds
Volume: 11,145 Pounds
Deadlift
- Set 1: 135 lbs × 5
- Set 2: 135 lbs × 5
- Set 3: 135 lbs × 5
- Set 4: 225 lbs × 8
- Set 5: 275 lbs × 3
- Set 6: 315 lbs × 2
- Set 7: 365 lbs × 1
- Set 8: 405 lbs × 1
- Set 9: 405 lbs × 1
- Set 10: 445 lbs × 1
- Set 11: 405 lbs × 1
Seated Leg Curl
- Set 1: 160 lbs × 8
- Set 2: 160 lbs × 8
- Set 3: 160 lbs × 8
Friday, October 16, 2015
Bodyweight: 201.8 Pounds
Volume: 16,550 Pounds
Bench Press
- Set 1: 45 lbs × 10
- Set 2: 95 lbs × 8
- Set 3: 135 lbs × 6
- Set 4: 185 lbs × 4
- Set 5: 225 lbs × 2
- Set 6: 225 lbs × 2
- Set 7: 225 lbs × 2
- Set 8: 225 lbs × 2
- Set 9: 225 lbs × 2
Incline Dumbbell Press
- Set 1: 100 lbs × 8
- Set 2: 120 lbs × 8
- Set 3: 130 lbs × 8
- Set 4: 130 lbs × 8
- Set 1: 5 reps
- Set 2: 5 reps
- Set 3: +25 lbs × 5
- Set 4: +25 lbs × 5
- Set 5: +25 lbs × 8 (Video Below)
Bicep Curl (Dumbbell)
- Set 1: 60 lbs × 8
- Set 2: 70 lbs × 8
- Set 3: 70 lbs × 8
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