Stuff to Read While You’re Pretending to Work: Wheat Belly Review, Spinal Health and Core Training, Creating Monsters

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While it’s technically not something you’ll be able to read while you’re sitting there at your desk pretending to work, I just wanted to remind everyone out there that today’s marks the LAST day that Spinal Health and Core Training: An Interdisciplinary Approach for Health, Fitness, Rehabilitation, and Performance is on sale for $100 off the regular price.

While I’d like to sit here and say that this DVD will add 50 lbs to your deadlift almost instantly, make you strong enough to wrestle a great white shark (with one arm), and increase your IQ so high that NASA will hold a ticker tape parade in your honor, that would be embellishing things just a tad.

I mean, it’s pretty much common knowledge that it’s impossible to put a great white into a half-nelson. So it’s not like I’m fooling anyone here.

All kidding aside, I really feel this is going to be a game changer for a lot of fitness professionals out there and will undoubtedly place you a step above the rest with regards to anatomy, assessment, corrective exercise, program design, and a plethora of other things like understanding when to progress (or regress) clients with back pain, how to integrate appropriate core exercises, and maybe even more important, how to coach the exercises correctly!

Spinal Health and Core Training

All of the guys involved – myself, Rick Kaselj, Dean Somerset, and Dr. Jeff Cubos – put a lot of work into this seminar and provided over 12 hours worth of information and knowledge bombs that, in our eyes, will make anyone who watches it a verifiable Robocop when it comes to working with athletes and clients with back injuries.

Diet Book Review: Wheat Belly – Dr. Yoni Freedhoff

I thought this was a fantastic review by Dr. Freedhoff on the best selling book, Wheat Belly, by William Davis, M.D.

It seems like every few weeks a new diet book comes out throwing something else under the table – in this case it’s wheat.

Now, I’m fully aware the gluten intolerance – and all the nastiness involved with it – exists.  And I’m also fully aware that people tend to overemphasize highly processed foods like breads, bagels, and pasta in their daily diets – even if they’re “whole wheat/grain” (and presumably under the guise that they’re healthier options) – and develop a killer “wheat/pot/food” belly as well as a raging case of type II diabetes to show for it.

On the flip side, though, there are still plenty of people out there who do eat whole grains and wheat (as well as many of the other foods which Dr. Davis poo-poos on) without any issues what-so-ever.

Admittedly, if given the choice, I’d lean more towards the camp of telling people to omit much (not all) of the grains and whole wheat products they eat – my gut and experience just tells me that most people are better off that way.

But at the same time I understand that pointing the finger at one thing is a bit naive and sensationalist; and that what works for one person, may not necessarily be the right choice for the next – especially in the long-term.

Thanks to people like Dr. Freedhoff, it’s a bit easier to tone down the stupid.

Are We Creating Monsters – Dr. Justin Rabinowitz

In light of all the talk surrounding the increased incidence of concussions and the dangers to one’s health that are a result, I thought this was an interesting commentary of the role the strength and conditioning community plays.

Now, just to be clear:  I am in no way insinuating that we shouldn’t “hold back” in our efforts to make our athletes (and clients) bigger, faster, and stronger (that’s what we’re paid to do)……..

…..But is there ever a time – and have we reached that point – where enough is enough?

Did what you just read make your day? Ruin it? Either way, you should share it with your friends and/or comment below.

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Plus, get a copy of Tony’s Pick Things Up, a quick-tip guide to everything deadlift-related. See his butt? Yeah. It’s good. You should probably listen to him if you have any hope of getting a butt that good.

I don’t share email information. Ever. Because I’m not a jerk.

Comments for This Entry

  • Jake

    Over the past few weeks I have cut wheat, and grains in general, out of my diet and I feel great. I definitely agree with you though; the majority of people who hear about/read books like Wheat Belly overreact and make sweeping generalizations. Like you said, there are people who can eat wheat and other grains and have no problems at all. Overreaction to different diet and exercise recommendations is becoming the norm. Great post!

    February 15, 2013 at 2:09 pm | Reply to this comment

    • TonyGentilcore

      Now that's what I'm talking about! Glad to see we're on the same page. I get so frustrated when people deal in absolutes and start using words like never, always, and everyone. What works for one person, may not be the best choice for someone else.

      February 18, 2013 at 8:30 am | Reply to this comment

  • Brent

    The problem I see with something like wheat (or really, grains in general) is that potential issues extend far beyond any test a doctor can give you (i.e. gluten sensitivity test being one). Like Dr. Davis mentioned in his book, gluten intolerance can manifest itself in so many ways (mental issues being a huge one). For me it is simple: If the food has been genetically alterered in any way, then it probably isn't safe for consumption, therefore, wheat and grains in general are tastier and somewhat healthier versions of baby poo. PS - I follow a ridiculous amount of smart trainers on these here internets, and your blog is the only one who I have actually gone way back into your blogging archive to pull up some older stuff. 6 years son! I come away with this classic line that I will be stealing from now on. Sorry. "The reason you don’t have big arms is because you’re weaker than a baby’s fart" Won't have time to read all 270 pages so you should definitly collect some of your epic statements along these lines, and just make a blog post with them. Surely, you have some good Tracy Anderson material...

    February 18, 2013 at 3:07 am | Reply to this comment

    • TonyGentilcore

      Completely agree with you Brent. But at the same time, there are plenty of people out there who lead normal, healthy lives who include wheat in their diet. Personally speaking, I try to exclude most of the wheat in my diet. Sure every now and then I'll have pizza or pasta or whatever. But all told, I feel infinitely better when I don't go out of my way to eat it. BUt that's just me, and I wouldn't tell everyone that what I do will work for them. But on an aside - wow - that WAS an old quote. Always appreciate the support and I'm humbled that you've read my site for so long. Thank you, sir!

      February 18, 2013 at 8:36 am | Reply to this comment

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