Arthur De Vany's Evolutionary Fitness Art's Blog on Fitness, Health, Aging, Nutrition and Exercise

Dear Art,

Please feel free to use this email for any purpose.  

Wanted to share with you my Paleo journey - where I am today is directly because of you.  Today, I turn 40.  If you'd asked me a few years ago what 40 meant, the response would not have been positive.  In a previous career, I used to work in the emergency department.  I saw first hand how the body "naturally" declines after a certain age.  I saw the feebleness and helplessness of those in their 60s and 70s.  That was my mental model of what aging is - if you're lucky, a slow decline, and if not, a painful steep one.

In some ways, that's our societal mental model as well.  Friends tell me I must have good genes, whereas for them, it's natural to get softer, have a belly, get that puffy look as they get older.  Let me tell you about my genes.  I was that skinny kid, the one in the corner always reading.  I was never the fit one, never the jock.  I discovered working out in my twenties, went after it with a mission, and got in great shape.  But did the classic stuff, protein powders, eat right after working out, 2 hour workouts, boring cardio was the answer, and so on.  Once I hit my 30's, I was developing that gut, my face had the puffy look.  But it was natural, I told myself.  I was still in decent enough shape for someone my age.

Then I discovered your blog, slowly started incorporating your principles.  The tipping point came at your seminar, meeting you and WW in person.  You were chiseled, your muscles were rippling under your shirt.  And you were wicked smart, still mentally challenging yourself, still getting in better and better shape.  It flipped my mental model on its head.  Now, I look at aging as a natural byproduct of getting better.  I'm getting smarter, more experienced, my body is getting better.  There is no painful gradual decline.  There is only getting better and better.  I welcome it.

These days, I spend far less time working out than I did in my twenties.  I don't worry about protein supplements, powders, feeding windows, or the latest fad diet out there to get rid of the final pounds.  I know how it works.  It's my responsibility to put the knowledge to action.  

My routine, if one wants to call it that:

Workout: I workout 6 to 7 days a week.  10 to 15 minutes max.  I have the luxury of a small gym in my building, so go downstairs with my coffee in the mornings.  I walk in, other people are climbing on treadmills or stretching.  10 to 15 minutes later, they're still running or stretching, while I've finished and am out.  As for what I do, thanks to you, we have so many choices, I mix and match.  Flex/stretch, Alactic, 15/8/4, 12x.  Whatever I feel like in the moment.  If there is one common theme, I like to do eccentrics, it's the one thing I've found to work consistently.  I like to power up, then come down slowly, always in control, never to failure.  I break the workouts down to shoulders/legs, back, chest.  This way, I hit the whole body 2x a week.  I could do more in one workout and spend less days in the gym, but it's become a habit, one I rather enjoy.  A great start to my day.

I don't do sprints, mainly because I'm lazy.  There's a rowing machine in the gym, I may throw in sprints on that a few times a week, see how I like it.  I've thought about joining Crossfit, but the whole rah rah group fitness thing doesn't have much appeal.  Put me in a gym, and I'm a lone animal, not beholden to anyone's directions or routines, going purely by instinct.

Eating: Since I workout in the mornings, it's naturally in a fasted state.  These days, I pretty much eat the New Evolution way.  I've cut out wine for a while because of the sugar content.  Being single in a big city, I attend social events involving alcohol, so when I drink, this is my favorite: 2/3 freshly squeezed lime juice, 1/3 soda, vodka over ice.  The mostly lime juice adds a refreshness which removes any need for wanting sugar - warning, for some, the tartness might be too much, but it works for me.  Another good one is Mojito without sugar  - bartenders will give you a strange look, but the mint plus lime juice is so refreshing, you'll wonder why anyone would want sugar.  

Suppliments: I take Dr. D's health pack.  Have added Vitamin D, Argenine, and Krill oil recently.  I may add something to increase muscle mass, whether it's BCAA or another that you recommend.  

Fasting: I don't do breakfast.  I've been playing around recently with 16 hour fasts a couple times a week.  They're so easy.  Last meal by 10pm.  Next meal at 2pm.  It seems to be a good window for me as I feel the hunger build by 130 and I know by 2, I'll eat to my heart's desire.  And if I feel like eating again later, I will.  If I don't feel like eating, I won't.  I end up averaging 2 meals a day.

Research: I used to spend time researching Paleo information online, but I stopped while back.  There's a few blogs I read, that's it.  I know you're enough of a skeptic and what you share with your readers, you've investigated thoroughly.  That's good enough for me.  If you start taking Argenine and recommend it, I know you've done the research, so I take it.  

Attached is a photo I recently took, this is the natural state of my body these days.  The best part: this way of life, it's empowering and easy.  

There are few people in my life I consider mentors, and you're one of them.  By sharing your knowledge with us, you've transformed lives, Art.  Thank you.

Kamal