When it comes to on-line resources of health and fitness information, I have no problems with people sharing ‘what worked for them’ – after all, this is EXPERIENCE, and it is a useful tool for us all to learn from.
What is becoming a major trend on-line is mistaking EXPERIENCE for EXPERTISE.
Learning from your own personal experience and telling people what worked for you is absolutely fine.
Learning from your personal experience and telling people WHAT worked and WHY it worked, without having the proper scientific background to do so, well that’s a whole other story.
When reading health and nutrition information, we need to ask ourselves, “is the source qualified to be reporting this information?”
For instance, someone who has transformed their body by losing a large amount of weight is a valuable resource for anyone who is also trying to transform their body by losing a large amount of weight.
This person has EXPERIENCE that he or she can share.
Now, if this same person starts sharing WHY things worked, without the scientific background to do so, this is simply an example of lying (if done on purpose) or arrogance (if done without knowing it was deceitful).
And this trend is what is very quickly watering down the value of the information that is available on-line (or off-line for that matter).
Bottom line – Being lean, having a monstrous bench press or being a manager of a gym does not mean you are qualified to interpret scientific data. Having a background in statistical analysis and methodology as well as an understanding of the scientific history within your SPECIFIC FIELD qualifies you to interpret scientific data.
Even scientific education is limited in its scope of EXPERTISE.
I have an undergraduate degree in human nutrition, 7 years experience working in clinical research overseeing weight loss and muscle building studies, and a graduate degree in human biology and nutritional sciences were I concentrated my research on the metabolic effects of fasting and its use in weight loss.
So even though my background is in an area of human health, this does not mean I should comment on the science of shoulder injury prevention.
Similarly, I have a colleague who is a PhD in athletic therapy with expertise in shoulder injury prevention, and thus while an expert in his own field knows not to comment on the usefulness of fasting for weight loss.
in 2009 I believe we should begin to openly question the qualifications of the sources that are trying to provide us with weight loss EXPERTISE.
In the scientific community there is nothing wrong, demeaning or rude about asking someone for their qualifications, and I believe this should the same within the on-line community.
If you’re not sure, there is no harm in asking.
BP
Tags: Dieting, Fasting, Fasting for Weight Loss, Fat loss, Nutrition
Hey Brad, your point is of such value to both professionals AND consumers. Once again, we share a common passion – to get to the truth as much as possible, have honest conversations about it, and truly help people become healthier by cutting through myths and magic bullets.
Your new blog looks like a great layout!
Lani
http://www.thetruthaboutfatlossforwomen.com
Brad,
The problem for me has been that there are plenty of people with expertise who interpret scientific “data” differently. In fact, many experts make assumptions from results of studies when they really shouldn’t. Take you and John Berardi, Ph.D., for instance. Both no doubt learned in your respective field, yet with stark differences in your understanding of optimum weight loss, metabolism, and strength. Not that you disagree on everything, but metabolism and “Starvation mode” comes quickly to mind.
For me, I’ve found it useful to seek out people like the both of you, to hear both sides, and to try things out for myself. That, for me, is the true value of experience. So many people get so caught up in the conflicting “Scientific info” that they have analysis paralysis and flounder. That’s when it’s time to just do what makes sense to you, and see if it works. Usually, it does.
PS, no more blogroll? OK then, shameless plug
http://leanbodyquest.com
Hey Billy,
Point taken, but as I stated in the post…you have to consider the exact area of expertise (and incentive based reasoning) for even the most educated people.
Did John complete is PhD in starvation mode (From my understanding his work was mostly athletic/supplement in nature)? When he speaks about starvation mode what is his exact definition. In what scenario? for what group of people (was it a typical t-nation style article). Was it supporting a product he is financially involved in (supplement or book?)
These are all factors we need to start considering, and asking when it comes to scientific advice.
BP
I’m trying to figure out how to put the Blog role on in this new template.
Brad,
I got your Eat Stop Eat book from the TT website. I couldn’t find an email address I can send my questions to so this was the best place.So here goes:
1. How do I decide whether to do one or two fasts per week?
2. I’m currently trying to put on more muscle and strength, should I just add more calories on to my non-fast days, or do away with the fast day altogether?
3. From what I can understand from the book’s FAQ, it’s alright for me to start my fast from 730AM-730AM (after I have eaten breakfast), and it shouldn’t make a lot of difference compared to a 6Pm-6PM fast right?
Thanks
Brad,
A very interesting and timely topic. I think one tends to see this in other areas as well. I know that many people at work have had experiences which they think qualifies them as having expertise in a given area.
Most nutritional and fitness approaches I read seem, for the most part, to present reasonable and logical strategies, references, etc. The logic does not hold together if the program is based on a false premise (i.e., fat burning can take place when there is an elevated level of insulin present). Determining if the premise is true or false becomes the problem if you don’t have the expertise or the correct criteria to measure by.
This is where the Eat Stop Eat lifestyle program excels. By defining the baseline hormonal conditions necessary for fat burning or fat storage, you provide the criteria by which to gauge any nutritional or fitness program that claims to burn body fat (and maintain lean body mass). ESE clearly states the causal chain (e.g., decreased insulin, increased HGH, increased FFA, etc) so separating the potential effective programs from the impostors is much easier. Maybe we will see a video that graphically summaries these conditions.
The ESE e-book, audios and transcripts provide a concise and easy to implement approach to weight control which I will recommend to others. They helped straighten out my think on fasting and have made me re-evaluate my approach to exercise. I began before Christmas and have found the ESE approach to be the easiest program I have ever tried. I mean how much easier than “do nothing” can it get?
King
Hi Jin,
I’d start with one, then move to two once you are comfortable with fasting.
neither, if you are an adult, calorie intake has little to do with muscle growth..concentrate on your workouts.
If you are still in your early twenties, then you may see a benefit in increasing your calorie intake.
No difference in when you start or stop, it is all personal preference.
I hope these answers help,
BP
Hi King,
Thank for the great feedback.
And you are right, it doesn’t get any easier than getting results from doing nothing!
BP
This is an excellent post, Brad; it is so helpful to remember that a list of letters of degree after a name does not mean that a person is qualified to speak on a topic. We so revere learning and credentials that we too often don’t think, “Is the person credentialed in this?” I’ve fallen victim to it before and I know I’m not alone.
I’ll add my experience to your expertise, though for the curious: Eat Stop Eat works.
Alyson