We loathe to advertise results. Don't get me wrong. Results matter A LOT. But here’s how we define what it is NOT: * Kgs/pounds lost * Before and after photos * Inches lost or gained * Improved strength as measured by force output, jumping, PR’s etc. All those metrics are measures of certain habits, processes, lifestyle changes that a ...
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August 24, 2023
Adjustable kettlebell 2.0
I made an adjustable kettlebell a few months ago. It worked. But there were things I did not like: 1. Handles were too wide. Didn’t let me get maximum range on some exercises. 2. Setup time was not as quick as I would have liked. 3. Make the entire setup a little more compact. 4. Handle was a little slick. So here is my second attempt....
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August 24, 2023
Tools matter
Why the tool matters. Here is a timeline of when we first introduced different tools in our gym: 2014 Barbells Rings Kettlebell Resistance bands Bumper plates Pull up bars 2015 Trapbars Dumbbells Sleds 2016 Squat racks Benches Push up handles Ab wheel 2017 Centre mass bells Landmines Swiss bars Split squat stands 2018 Peg board Lat pul...
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August 24, 2023
Building tools
Humans are tool builders and we build tools that can dramatically amplify our innate human abilities. Steve Jobs I can’t think of a single better explanation for why it’s so much fun and necessary to make tools for my gym. It gives you options, control and with a click of a carabiner can change the adaptation and outcome. That’s essent...
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August 24, 2023
Environment
'I always thought that humanity was animal-like. The Confucian theory was that Man can be improved. I’m not sure he can be, but he can be trained, he can be disciplined. I’m not sure you can actually change the character of a man but you can discipline him and make him, you make a left-hander write with his right hand but you can’t rea...
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August 6, 2023
Why the tool matters
Here is a timeline of when we first introduced different tools in our gym: 2014 Barbells Rings Kettlebell Resistance bands Bumper plates Pull up bars 2015 Trapbars Dumbbells Sleds 2016 Squat racks Benches Push up handles Ab wheel 2017 Centre mass bells Landmines Swiss bars Split squat stands 2018 Peg board Lat pull-down handle Open bac...
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August 6, 2023
Zomato CEO gets roasted for getting healthier
Critiquing a well-paid CEO is a convienient thing to do. And Zomato’s CEO made himself an easy target. But here’s the deal: Is it hypocritical when your well-being is contingent on not using the very product/service you profit from ? Three quick thoughts : “We made the iPod for ourselves,” he said, “and when you’re doing something for ...
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August 6, 2023
Adjustable kettlebell
I made an adjustable kettlebell a few months ago. It worked. But there were things I did not like: 1. Handles were too wide. Didn’t let me get maximum range on some exercises. 2. Setup time was not as quick as I would have liked. 3. Make the entire setup a little more compact. 4. Handle was a little slick. So here is my second attempt....
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August 6, 2023
Experts suggest we rebrand obesity
Does changing the name change the problem. NO I propose we relabel climate change as occasionally inconvenient weather, poor air quality and as a perverse incentive to make long term investments in floating homes technology. You would rightfully label me as someone unwilling to acknowledge reality and bite the bullet on short and mediu...
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August 6, 2023
Strengthen your knees and muscles around the knees to get rid of pain
If I had a rupee for every time a doctor said this to a client/patient, I could probably afford a few tomatoes to pelt at the vague recommendations from authority figures. What determines if a muscle needs strengthening? I have seen clients belting out squats, jumps and lunges producing oodles of force to power those acts. They occasio...
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August 6, 2023
When headlines and content have no context
Intense exercise could act as a ‘protective shield’ against metastatic cancer WHO says aspartame, sweetener found in soda, may cause cancer Influencer Lauds Maggi for Taking Action Against High Sugar in Ketchup After Previous Criticism Spare just 11 minutes a day or 75 minutes a week for a quick walk: New study says this could reduce t...
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We tend to think that knowledge, once acquired, is something permanent. Instead, even holding on to it requires constant, careful effort. Maciej Ceglowski Now, there's one thing you might have noticed I don't complain about: politicians. Everybody complains about politicians. Everybody says they suck. Well, where do people think these ...
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June 18, 2023
Quality of life
Quality of life (QoL) is a concept which aims to capture the well-being, whether of a population or individual, regarding both positive and negative elements within the entirety of their existence at a specific point in time. For example, common facets of QoL include personal health (physical, mental, and spiritual), relationships, edu...
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June 18, 2023
Putting any food on a pedestal is needless
Year of lentils, year of millets, year of dairy, all of it makes me weary. Drawing attention to potential foods that you might not be aware of is fine. But making any food seem like the solution to world peace, climate change and the solution to all your health and wellness woes is pointless. We eat too much. The antidote to that is to...
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June 18, 2023
Degrees of intervention
You’ve decided you want to eat ‘better’. What does that mean though ? Here’s what you can do in increasing order of difficulty: 1. Be restrained, measured and cut back on how much you eat out. Be very selective in where and what you eat when you eat out. 2. Cut back on liquid calories. Coffee, tea, juices, softdrinks, kombuchas, alcoho...
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A protein is a quick and easy way to get 20 grams of protein. https://nutrova.com/products/nutrova-whey-protein-isolate https://www.myprotein.co.in/sports-nutrition/micellar-casein/11654639.html As for vegan supplements, Origin is a good option. Here are the best multivitamin options : 1. if you do friends or family coming down from th...
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May 12, 2023
Personal responsibility
Below is a pic from my holiday in the Andamans. I spent time in the northern parts of the island. It was gorgeous. It was also full of litter. Relatively obscure tourist destinations are filled with empty bottles, biscuits and chips wrappers. It is a sorry sight. Who is responsible ? The government, inhabitants or tourists ? Is there a...
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May 12, 2023
Same difference
‘Lifting weights and strength training is not for me. I tried this place and did not like it.’ -unnamed client Two coaches might say and implement the exact same thing in two different ways. The way one says/implements it resonates and feels like a personal call to action. The way the other says/implements it does not move you enough t...
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April 14, 2023
PERFECT IS THE ENEMY OF DOING
There is no perfect diet There is no perfect daily eating plan There is no perfect exercise plan There most definitely is no perfect amount or type of activity HERE’S WHY You eat foods. Unless eating 2000 calories with carefully measured and planned foods is among the top 3 priorities in life, you will most certainly not be able to mea...
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April 7, 2023
Here is my attempt at management speak: DIFA
DIFA Dosage Intensity Frequency Attention DIFA makes or breaks most things, endeavours, relationships or habits in life. Here’s a quick rundown on the semantics of those terms: Dosage: We can tweak the popular adage into ‘The devil is in the dosage’ to render it more potent. Dosage determines the outcome, potency and adaptation. Too li...
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March 27, 2023
What does fitness mean
Fitness comes from the Greek word ‘it can mean anything’. I am kidding. The statements ‘I am fit’, ‘I want to be fit’ are fill in the blanks statements. They need to be I am fit for _______ activity or I want to be fit enough to complete ____. Family, work, time, health, goals, friends, quarantines, priorities, motivation and your abil...
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March 21, 2023
Why I like measuring my food
We have a giant weighing scale in our kitchen counter. It is part of the standard workflow in our kitchen. We measure most of the food we eat or prepare. We are not a family of body builders or athletes. We measure since it is the easiest way to know how much we eat. This is the simplest way to control how much energy you consume. What...
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March 19, 2023
Why I love exercise
The result is directly proportional to the effort . Not time, not money. But effort. What you do is what you get. If you bend your knees very little, it results in very little development of muscle around the knee. If you bend or rotate your shoulders very little, you get very little muscle around the shoulders. Systematically squattin...
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March 12, 2023
Bottom line thinking
Results matter. All the content you consume, all the activity you take on, the protein shakes, gym fees, equipment purchases and nutrition habits you foster need to yield and maintain results. One of the simplest ways to measure outcomes in your body composition. WHAT A DEXA SCAN SHOWS YOU The DEXA scan result below shows you what perc...
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March 12, 2023
We underestimate what our body is capable of doing and overestimate how much we need to do
Activity porn is as problematic as photoshop when it comes to perception of fitness and body image. What you don’t need: 1. Globe shaped shoulders 2. A sculpted abdomen 3. Run distances over 2-3 kilometers 4. More than 40-45 mins working out What you do need: 1. Reasonable body composition with body fat levels not exceeding 20-25% 2. A...
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March 8, 2023
Shame is good
• We know walks are not enough • We know the hitting a buffett twice a week is bad • Impulsive decisions to order food are seldom measured or healthy • Playing soccer or badminton twice a week isn’t enough for our body to maintain bone health and muscle • Healthier ingredients, unlike smartphones, are neither ubiquitous nor convenient ...
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March 8, 2023
What ails our education system also ails our fitness industry. You get what you pay for.
WHAT ARE GYMS A space that provides you with literal space, machines, weights and other implements to do things. What is the 'thing' that you need to exactly do? You need to pay more to find that out. 99% of gyms out there do not factor for the true cost of educating you and guiding you to an outcome. They charge you for the space, air...
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March 8, 2023
Correlation vs causality
* I squat because my knees are healthy or my knees are healthy because I squat * I sleep well because I am stress free or I am stress free because I sleep well Establishing causality is hard. Rarely is an outcome solely caused by one action. But here are two cases where causality can snowball into something desirable and you can’t tell...
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March 8, 2023
Eat like an adult
I ran into this product in Thailand (picture below): Meiji High Protein Zero Sucrose Whey Formula Chocolate Flavour This was a milk-based beverage that was on almost every 7-11 store shelf I visited. And anyone who has been to Thailand can tell you that there are a lot of 7-11’s there. The same product was on offer from 2-3 companies. ...
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February 19, 2023
Piece that deserves a lot more love
Original is here: http://www.trickstutorials.com/content/foodlog.php I did not write this. But I don't I could ever write a better version of it. But here's how logging is done. Food logging / Calorie mathematics: Author: Jujimufu Published: Summer 2005 Food logging and calorie calculations, these tasks summon imagery of both compulsiv...
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