300 Second Interview: Art De Vany (Evolutionary Fitness)

 

Why Evolutionary Fitness?
 

Evolutionary Fitness is a play on words. It means, in the science, reproductive capacity of an organism or animal. But, it is also a play on the concepts of evolution and fitness, combining them in a new way to show a model of fitness and health that is consistent with how we humans evolved.

What were the biggest challenges you face in promoting this new - old way of fitness?
 

No challenges since I really have not promoted it. I present my ideas, arguments and evidence and then others evaluate them and make their own decision. I never try to convince others. That was a challenge, not to be a promoter but a scientist and creator of a new model.

Activity tends to be under-rated. Why do you think this is?

One reason is that it is claimed to be self-defeating in the typical energy balance approach of calories in and out. It is said that you will just eat more if you are more active and will not lose weight. But, that model is wrong. You are active, in my mind and in my book, because evolution programmed that as a necessary part of health and survival. I exercise to alter my hormones and gene expression, not to lose weight. We are active genotypes and activity alters metabolic pathways and gene expression to produce the health that is our evolutionary legacy.

What did you want to be when growing up? Any regrets? 
 

No regrets. You cannot have regrets when you realize you cannot make anything happen. The world is random and ever-changing and we must adapt or perish or waste away. 

What inspires you?
 

The centality of evolutionary thinking in just about everything is awe insipiring. The quest for knowledge inspires me. Science inspires me. My children and wife inspire me. The Egyptian people inspire me.

What are you reading at the moment and what inspired you to do so? 

I read so much it is hard to choose. I am rereading Mel Greaves, Cancer: The Evolutionary Legacy and Christian de Duve's Vital Dust. I think James Le Fanu's The Rise and Fall of Modern Medicine is one of the finest books.

What is your favourite holiday destination? Why?
 

I don't have one, but we like the Boardwalk at Atlantic City, my wife is from there. We just bought a condo there right on the boardwalk. I will soon be seen rollerblading there.

If you could turn back the clock what era would you most like to visit?

Interesting. I can't, but I like to imagine life about 40,000 BC. I do plan a motorcyling trip to Africa, way down back dirt roads through the Rift Valley, the birthplace of humans.

If you could have any super-power what would it be?

There are no superpowers. If I could free my imagination even more, maybe I could come close.

Evolutionary Fitness has gained momentum of late, is the world now ready?
 

I think it is ready. This is the age of the genome after all and my book The New Evolution Diet, which is my popular and more readable expression of Evolutionary Fitness is my attempt at reflecting genomic research and what it says about how to live and be healthy.

What has been your biggest U-turn since you encountered Evolutionary Fitness?

Getting rid of all the sports science and diet recommendations that abound. I HAD to do it because the advice doctors gave us to deal with the type 1 diabetes both my son and wife developed was not working. It was wrong 25 years ago, is still wrong, but the best research is finally changing this, at last.

What has been your most surreal experience?
 

There are no surreal experiences, only real experiences that a person's memory and preferences gets a bit wrong and turns into something surreal.

What do you believe is the best way to promote IGF production? Sprinting, heavy lifting or quality sleep? 

IGF is produced systemically in the liver and circulates through the blood stream from there. It has beneficial and harmful effects. IGF is also produced in muscle fibers, for growth and repair in response to activity. That is where I get most of my IGF. Since muscle damage is the trigger, weight lifting is the best way to produce IGF. Sprinting is close, because the eccentric load from sprinting damages muscle.

What do you think of the term "compression of morbidity"?

I have compressed my morbidity, I think. I am trying to extend healthy years, not length of life. Hunter gatherers who live to long age, because they avoid the high mortality of infancy and grow wise enough not to be eaten, killed by a fellow human, or avoid infection live well until they just sit or lie down to die, usually in their 80s. That is the way to go.

What principle of life has taken you the longest time to understand?

That you can barely control yourself; surely not outcomes. You only control the choices you make, not the outcomes. Then life rolls the dice and the dice are wild, not the tame dice we know.

What is usually the hardest obstacle to overcome for those new to EF?

They think they have to make it happen. They have to let go and let it happen.

Read previous 60 second interview with Art De Vany here: 

60 Second Interview: Art De Vany (Evolutionary Fitness)

 60 Second Interview: Art De Vany (Evolutionary Fitness)

Who are you?

Art De Vany.  A retired professor, blogger, and originator of Evolutionary Fitness.  Author of 'The New Evolution Diet'

What is fitness to you?

High physiological capacity to do what I want and to move through life effortlessly and without fear.

What are your goals?

To live well and love my wife and children. I like helping others as well, but they have to carry their load and make their own choices.

What is one of your main concerns in relation to public health?

People seem to take too little interest or responsibility for their own health; the medical system tends to make people patients rather than capable individuals who make their own choices.

What is your favourite meal?
 

A big vegetable salad with smoked salmon.

What is your favourite exercise/activity?
 

Tennis, easy walking with no rush or intention to "burn calories". Pulling my Range Rover and sprinting.

What is your least favourite exercise/activity?

Sitting; it is its own metabolic mode that stops your metabolism from using fat as fuel. 

Blog/Website: 
 

www.arthurdevany.com

300 Second Interview: Mark Twight (Gym Jones)

300 Seconds with Mark Twight

Fitness Explorer with Mark Twight (Gym Jones)

What was the inspiration behind the 300 'test'?

I was responsible for getting the actors and stuntmen prepared for their roles in the Movie '300'.  Part of this was the process of these guys becoming 'Spartans'.  The director Zack Snyder and I decided we needed to have a graduation exercise.

This was the original challenge:

25 x Pull-up + 

50 x Deadlift @ 60kg + 

50 x Push-up + 

50 x Box Jump @ 24 inch box + 

50 x Floor Wiper @ 60kg + 

50 x KB Clean & Press @ 15 kg (single arm) + 

25 x Pull-up

Of the 35 people trained only 17 were invited to take the test.  The criteria was that they were not only physically capable, but that the seeds were sown psychologically.  They had to be scared and unprepared, a recipe of fear.  It was designed as a test not a workout, to assess certain characteristics - for example how do you deal with stressful conditions?

Would you change anything about the original 300 workout?

The only change would be to increase the Clean & Press to a 20kg (44lb) Kettlebell (KB).

Other variations are the 300 Heavy which uses an 85kg (187lb) deadlift/floor wiper with a 24kg (53lb) KB Clean & Press and the 300 Heavier which uses a 100kg (225lb) deadlift/floor wiper.

What is the Gym Jones' philosophy?

"Find the problem, fix the problem."  As simple as is needed, but as complicated and as individual as it needs to be.

What are your views on linear vs non-linear periodisation?

Linear is better suited for specialised sports, it works for those areas and is proven to do so.  Non-linear periodisation works for generalised fitness, a fighter or for sports people that need a more rounded approach.  But this won't allow you to peak on the day.

Darryl's addition:  An athlete that requires hypertrophy, power, strength, strength endurance and cardiovascular endurance for example would work on a non-linear route of periodisation and the phases would vary based on what factors are most important.

What is the importance of nutrition to well-being?

The foundation on which everything sits.

Is Gym Jones a Crossfit with non-linear periodisation?

Hell no!  Gym Jones is not a program.  For example if a fighter has a strength and conditioning issue and is losing due to a lack of conditioning we can help.  If they are losing due to technical deficiencies, then they should focus on those skills.  The gym, programming or artificial training is always secondary to sports specific practice and sports performance.

We train people for specific objectives, we don't compete in the gym.  The gym is not our sport.  Time should be spent wisely, and often it is better placed working on sport specific characteristics.

For people performing at the top of their game.  Their fitness level is usually good enough.  We provide a maintenance level only.  The fitness channel (the ability of improved fitness to better sports performance) is diminished.  Some training has to be cyclical to peak for competition.

The type of programming and planning provided is to support activities outside of the gym.  Those things decide what we should be doing.  This includes smart rest, recovery, changes in intensity, periodisation and avoiding burn-out.

Your favourite exercise?

30:30 Push-Press

Darryl's Addition - This workout is 30 sec work, 30 sec static hold at the top of the press.  (Repeated for say 4 rounds).  The rest is taken during the work part of the interval, aiming for as many reps as possible.

Your favourite workout?

Tears & Power, the exercises are arbitrary but it is a 4 x 4 matrix where the idea is to structure it so people are confident in the 1st round but by the end find it psychologically very difficult. 

Darryl's Addition - "I will post an example Tears & Power workout in the near future."

Who is Big Jim? (the guy on the T-shirt/website)

A piece of art commissioned by a comic book and crime scene illustrator of me.  A representation of "Two Hands Anyhow" .  A traditional strongman lift called the Bent Press.

What is your favourite quotation?

"Get it done now, because you're not going to live forever" - Mark Twight.

The individual who has inspired you the most?

Bruce Lee, the consummate example of someone who put his thoughts into action.

Final question:  You get the chance to go back into time and can make one decision involving your health and well-being - what would it be?

I would go back to the age of 21 and make the decision to have my broken ankle fixed.  I made a short-term decision not to get it fixed so I could continue to climb, rather than taking the long view.  In hindsight not the right thing to do.

Earlier 60 Second Interview with Mark Twight (Gym Jones)

300 Second Interview: Erwan Le Corre (MovNat)

An inspirational interview with the founder of MovNat - Erwan Le Corre.

Why MovNat? 

MovNat is a synthesis of my philosophy and practice.  In a nutshell it's my lifestyle that can be shared, taught and transmitted.  I’ve been researching and working on this for 20 years.

MovNat the notion of natural movement, a practice, a discipline, fitness regimen, physical education method or a lifestyle choice, can gain recognition and obtain a well-deserved place in today’s society.

MovNat so that people will not be intimidated to move naturally in public spaces anymore.

MovNat so people are liberated and empowered thanks to a powerful and effective way to become strong, healthy, happy and free, or if you will, true to their nature.

What did you want to be when growing up?  Any regrets? 

When I was a kid I wanted to be an explorer, a sailor or even a pirate.  I’ve done a bit of all these :D.  I don’t have any regrets, life is a fabulous adventure to me. 

Having a clear mental picture of what you want to experience in life is really important because when your vision and reality match you feel uplifted. Life becomes a process you can play a creative role in, a journey that is the destination. 

John Lennon said, “life is what happens while you’re busy planning.”

That’s true because spending your life planning all details of it is the best way to not get to where you want to go.  The devil is in the details. You want to stay creative and adaptive. Visualize with confidence, but sometimes go with the flow. 

You now live in the US, how does it compare to life in France?

Everything goes faster here.  The pioneer spirit is still alive, with this desire to do something new and to achieve.  I love that can-do-attitude because that is my mindset too, so in that sense I am very American. France can be very creative but also very conservative.  French people generally tend to see everything in a negative light. 

But I also sense a increasing fear of the future in the US.  I think this country is still young, and therefore still has a great power of resilience, but I don’t see change coming from politics.  The most powerful change will come from a change of lifestyle. I would like to help. 

What are you reading at the moment and what inspired you to do so? 

I’m reading “Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers” by Robert M.Sapolsky.

It perfectly explains the science behind the “Zoo Human Syndrome” - the plethora of physical and mental afflictions that undermine modern human's health and wellbeing.  If you want to be strong, healthy, happy and free again, it is high time to question what’s “normal” in our modern lives! 

 What is your favourite holiday destination? Why?

Holiday?  Honestly, I’m never really on vacation, I tend to be at work all the time, but I love what I do.  It’s more an expression of who I am than a chore; I’m driven by passion and vision.  I do have a favorite place in the world though; it is Corsica, a French island in the Mediterranean. It is a beautiful island that combines mountains, forests and lakes, desert and sea.  The nature there is phenomenal. It is a unique place.

 What is your favourite pursuit when not doing MovNat?

I love to learn new stuff and to travel.  But to me that’s the MovNat attitude.

 If you could have any super-power what would it be?

The power to heal people and to relieve them from any suffering they have.  I’ve designed a concept that I hope will help many to engage in a healthy lifestyle. We’re not supposed to be weak, sick, depressed and caged.  Quite the opposite.  We were meant to thrive.

 What are the differences between Georges Hebert's Methode Naturelle and MovNat?

The main difference resides in the coaching system, which has been updated.  It is more elaborate and efficient in MovNat.  It also has solid scientific backing.  MovNat's philosophy is formulated to better fit with today using modern forms of communication, for instance video and the Internet.  

To clarify “Methode Naturelle” is not where this started, since Georges Hebert modernized the work of Amoros that preceded him by a century.  MovNat is today’s evolution of a philosophy that is more than 200 years old, the story will go on and propel itself into the future. 

 MovNat has been gaining momentum in the last few years - did you ever feel as if the world was never ready for this form of natural movement?  What kept you going?

I did not think the world was ready when I was 19 and living a similar lifesyle. 

What kept me going was a strong sense of self, of who I had chosen to be and how I had chosen to experience life in today’s world.  I've always had the intuition that my quest had a meaning and that I would have things to share on a larger scale some day.  Over time this feeling has proven to be true.

20 years later much has changed, it is easy to see MovNat is one of these things people really need  today.  MovNat is more than the coaching or the practice of natural movement, it can be a lifestyle.  I envision that more and more people will crave for such a lifesyle, because it is the perfect antidote to a Zoo human predicament.

What has been your most surreal experience?

Feeding wolves in a park one night, by holding raw flesh between my lips, and inhaling their breath as they would snatch the meat with mind-blowing speed and lightness.  I was 20 and it has been the most primal experience of my life.