I’m always in need of good topics to cover in my vids, but please use the search function to see if the topic has been covered here on BrinkZone first! 🙂
Will Brink is the owner of the Brinkzone Blog. Will has over 30 years experience as a respected author, columnist and consultant, to the supplement, fitness, bodybuilding, and weight loss industry and has been extensively published. Will graduated from Harvard University with a concentration in the natural sciences, and is a consultant to major supplement, dairy, and pharmaceutical companies.
His often ground breaking articles can be found in publications such as Lets Live, Muscle Media 2000, MuscleMag International, The Life Extension Magazine, Muscle n Fitness, Inside Karate, Exercise For Men Only, Body International, Power, Oxygen, Penthouse, Women’s World and The Townsend Letter For Doctors.
He’s also been published in peer reviewed journals.
Will is the author of the popular e-books, both accompanied by private members forum access , Bodybuilding Revealed & Fat Loss Revealed.
You can also buy Will’s other books on Amazon, Apple iBook, Â and Barnes and Noble.
Name a few supplement companies that you trust in addition to LEF.
Please and Thanks
Would love to get any updated info on training, recovery, nutrition etc.. for those of us in our 50’s. and up.
I was introduced (after a largely slothful life,) at about 45 to the would of BB and fitness by the likes of Venuto , Waterbury and of course Will Brink. ( BBR was first ebook I bought) I have made good progress over the last decade or so ( wife thinks I’m nuts, that’s a good sign I think) But I feel a lot of programs /advice are geared toward younger trainees. The articles by Monica on TR are great Loved the article on Sarcopenia too!…but maybe just some basic advice to help maximize results for those of us at or around this age ( 54) to help keep the momentum going! Thanks Will for all your great work.
Health and Happiness…………….d
I echo Dan’s request, and would like to add that if possible you talk about the rest and frequency of training for over 50s, type of training, ie isolated or compound, etc. Thanks Will in advance.
If you have BBR, you have what you need in terms the nutrition, supplement, and training info you need to plan your program regardless of age. There’s nothing different per se one need do at any age. That is, the same principles apply. Tweaking those principles to your specific needs (due to age, injuries, experience levels, etc) takes some personal testing, and why we have mods and members to help on the BBR forums, which you should have access to. We have members in their 40s, 50s, 60s, and a few in their 70s I believe. I’d highly recommend you use that resource you paid for.
I do feel there are issues that we must address as we age (e.g., hormones for example which are extensively covered on BZ here via articles and vids…), and pay closer attention to (volume, loading, warm ups, etc), but they are essentially the same issues others should pay attention to, but don’t. A few vids of interest are Exercise Advice for Aging Adults and Training Over 40.
The article and Pod Cast on sarcopenia, also essential information that’s essential to pay attention to for anyone over 40. Finally, you’ll find a number of articles by Monica M on “healthy aging” which are full of great info and worth reading if you have not.
I was hoping that you would comment on the book “Grain Brain” by David Perlmutter MD. He appears to lean towards the Paleo diet. He thinks that with modern agriculture we have introduced gluten to our diet in a major way that our evolved DNA has not had time to adapt to. How does this match up, or not match up, with your view of nutrition for the athlete.
Thanks, David
I have not read it, but any book or author that vilifies a specific food as the cause of all our modern ills can safely be ignored in my experience. The recent gluten hysteria is a good example of that…
The same here training and diet for over 50s(I am 53) PLUS the older we get our kidneys(among others) are not as good as when younger. Thanks Ricky.
See my response to Dan 🙂
Will: I seem to have positive results from a colostrum product. What do you think of colostrum?
I cover it fully in BBR and SSB. There’s a lot of interesting peptides and such found in colostrum and some interesting studies. But much, maybe most of it, is not legit and it’s very sensitive to timing, temps, processing, etc and legit colostrum is very expensive. Likely has some health benefits and such, but due to those factors, not a product that cab or will really catch on. But, lots of ” colostrum” sold that’s likely not the real stuff and or contains the active peptides and such.
Hi will,
My question is about GMP (Glycomacropeptide) in whey (I didn’t find it in the 50 shades of Whey) are they good or bad, some companies say it’s beneficial others say it’s not, What is your opinion please ?
All I know is that native whey is low in GMP whereas whey from cheese is high in GMP….then info on GMP becomes biased by the industry trying to sell their product.
GMP is indeed mentioned in 50 Shades of Whey Report, BBR, etc. There’s some interesting studies on some of it’s effects, but also conflicting studies too. A correctly produced whey product will contain good dose of GMPs.
How does the use of anti-inflammatory medication affect muscle recovery? Will their use on heavy training days, or when starting a new training program slow, negate or enhance recovery? And if I am using them for an existing injury, will any effect be dose determinate?
There’s data to suggest chronic use of anti-inflammatory may hinder muscle growth, but no long term conclusive studies im aware of. I’d use them sparingly only when needed for various reasons regardless.
I have a few suggestions:
– I think it would be interesting to see a day in the life of Will. What do you eat? what supplements do you take? how do you cook your food and why? How much alcohol do you drink? Do you ever drink too much (or is it not worth it healthwise)? What time do you go to bed (is it always the same time)?
Obviously, those things would only be interesting if you do them for some specific (health-related) reason. On that note, it would also be nice to know what things are not worth worrying about.
I guess what I’m trying to say is, seeing how knowledgeable you are in health-topics, to get more general health/lifestyle advice that is not necessarily related to body building or fat loss. A lot of people are confused about what’s really necessary and important. Eg when I go to the LEF website or browse their magazine, I get the impression I need to spend about $1,000 per month on supplements just to stay healthy. We need some Brink no BS common sense in the general health area as well 🙂
– Maybe you could do a monthly or so roundup of commenting on health news, what is bogus, what is interesting, what needs more research. Most fitness sites throw out so many news, and I’m always wondering how much of it is BS or just cherry-picked studies. Eg that coconut oil video you did – before I saw that, I thought, hey, maybe this stuff is worth taking, it’s good to get grounded every once in a while.
– Speaking of the above, bone broth and organ meats are being touted as superfoods on Paleo websites (maybe I should stop spending so much time there), what are your thoughts on that? Some other things that come to mind regarding alleged super foods are wheat grass juice, acai berries…
“I have a few suggestions:”
Just a few? 🙂
I’ll do my best here:
“- I think it would be interesting to see a day in the life of Will. What do you eat? what supplements do you take? how do you cook your food and why? How much alcohol do you drink? Do you ever drink too much (or is it not worth it healthwise)? What time do you go to bed (is it always the same time)?”
I always hesitate with that type of Q as what I take for supps say may not be what you need for supps, and many of the supps I take are geared toward health vs performance or building muscle, etc. Multi, fish oil, creatine, whey, CoQ10, DHEA, beta alinine, and D3, are usually found in my staple intake with othrer supps rotating in and out for various reasons.
Food wise, breakfast is often oatmeal and egg whites and vegis. Can of tuna, black beans, vegis, olive oil, might be lunch, or a turkey sandwich, or left overs. Dinner may be fish, chicken, or lean red meat, with salad, and sweet potatoe. If the mood hits me, may be pizza or what ever I feel like eating. Between meals may be protein drink, nuts, dried fruit, left overs, cottage cheese, etc.
I like a good beer and good red wine, and have been known to over indulge in those items. Moderation is key there, but on occasion I forget the moderation part and pay for it the next day. I do have a vid on alcohol on BZ here.
I tend to go to bed same time (11pm) unless I have a good reason not to…
“Obviously, those things would only be interesting if you do them for some specific (health-related) reason. On that note, it would also be nice to know what things are not worth worrying about.”
That’s a very large topic which I do cover via articles, vids, and programs and books here. There’s no simple list that exists for such a topic.
“I guess what I’m trying to say is, seeing how knowledgeable you are in health-topics, to get more general health/lifestyle advice that is not necessarily related to body building or fat loss. A lot of people are confused about what’s really necessary and important. Eg when I go to the LEF website or browse their magazine, I get the impression I need to spend about $1,000 per month on supplements just to stay healthy. We need some Brink no BS common sense in the general health area as well :)”
Well, BZ here attempts to cover that topic in various formats as mentioned above, and I do offer 1:1 consults via option on the right hand side of this page. For example, in BBR there’s a Supplement Pyramid which covers nicely what’s worth using, what’s not, and what “might be worth a try” for example.
“- Maybe you could do a monthly or so roundup of commenting on health news, what is bogus, what is interesting, what needs more research. Most fitness sites throw out so many news, and I’m always wondering how much of it is BS or just cherry-picked studies. Eg that coconut oil video you did – before I saw that, I thought, hey, maybe this stuff is worth taking, it’s good to get grounded every once in a while”.
If you’re following me on Face Book, I do post a lot of info on latest news and studies and such in “real time” so I’d recommend you join my page.
Something else comes to mind:
I have watched all your vids of fats and read the sections in the ebooks, however there are still some things I’d like to know:
30% of calories from fat – that seems to be the optimal amount, no further benefits beyond that number – however, I’m wondering, are there any drawbacks to consuming more fat? No more benefits doesn’t have to mean it’s harmful. Sometimes I just find it more convienent to get more calories from fat.
A lot of times one read’s about the “dangers of polyunsaturated fats”. The thinking goes basically, as they are unsaturated, they bond easily with free radicals and harmful substances are created (I guess the story is a lot more complicated than that). Seeing as they are essential, we are told to only consume the minimum few % of calories required for health. They do however focues mostly on avoiding omega 6 fatty acids. I know how you emphazise the importance of the O3/O6 ratio, but these people say, in addition to watching the ratio, the total quantity should not exceed the minimum required amount. What are your thoughts on that? I can already see it colliding with your 1/3 rule, as the net result would be a pretty low-fat diet, if the 1/3 ratios were kept.
Is their a benefit of doing two types of lifting in a rep? explosive + t.u.t.. Say a bench press. The positive (going off the chest would be explosive ) The negative (coming back down to the chest) would be t.u.t.. Would the set be finished when the explosive was taking the same number of sec. as the t.u.t. ?
There’s a potential benefit to do various forms of lifting that alters variables such as loading, TUT, rep ranges, etc, etc. You’ll find many articles here covering that here, some vids, and it’s covered in depth in Body Building Revealed if interested. The proper application of when/how to alter those variables is the key. See articles here by myself, Coach Staley, Monica Mollica, and others.
Hi Will, really enjoy reading and listening to your articles/vids. Thanks for cutting through the bull and presenting the info in easy to understand format. I have a topic for you that I haven’t saw you cover. I have a friend that got involved with a nutrition company called genesis pure. The founder/owner is Lindsey Duncan, a naturopathic doc and a C.N. It is a direct sales/network marketing company. The products are mostly herbs, superfruits, essential oils, etc and they do have a sports performance line. His philosophy is “cleanse, balance, build”. My friend is almost obsessed with the products and wont step back and listen to reason so I wanted to get your opinion on the company/products if you can take a look at it. The website is genesispure.com Thanks for your time, Lance
The company appears to be MLM. Although I have not looked at that company specifically, MLM as a rule is not the place to get superior products for the $$$ spent due the simple nature and business model that is MLM. Go their companies main web site. What do you see? I saw a big wave of money graphic, which to me, represent what their focus is…..
Please, say something about NIACIN (B3). Which form is better, extended or immediate release form ??? tnx
Thanks for the facebook suggestion. I have checked your page and found a lot of interesting health news, so I liked it immediately so I can follow the news feed.
Maybe I have missed it, but did you ever cover ‘Ashwagandha’?
I have been taking it for 3 months now (with a break of two weeks after 2 months) and it seems to be working well in my case. I can train harder and more frequently without my quality of sleep and my energy during the day decreasing. This normally was a problem for me.
Although my sleep and energy worsened in the two weeks without, I have no real good way of knowing if this is just the placebo effect. I like to know your opinion about it’s effects please.
Can I dissolve DiCreatine Malate in hot water the same way as monohydrate?
Thanks, Sly
I don’t know what the specific solubility of DiCreatine Malate is off the top of my head, so can’t answer that one. Won’t do it any harm if you wish to go that route with that form of creatine. Realize there’s no support for that being worth the extra $$$ over basic CM and I cover that issue in “The Creatine Graveyard” and updates.
Will
in “Creatine Timing” you said that timing is a non issue, i sthis true in respect to the intake of insuline.
Is there a way to maximize creatine effects by means of an insulin spike?
thanks
Will: Thanks for the invite to post a unique question. Here’s one I’ve been thinking about…
There are a number of exercises which are highly recommended for their ability to exercise several muscles at once and to do so especially for the lower body. As examples, think lunges, squats, deadlifts, etc. (“The New Rules of Lifting” by Schuler and Cosgrove highlyrecommend them). These are good for exercising the glutes but if a man carries most of his fat in this area and the hips (rather than as a “beer belly” stomach), won’t building muscle here simply make one’s glutes larger – excessive fat plus an increase of muscle beneath it – until an aggressive fat burning/weight loss program is implemented? I have avoided doing heavy reps/weights of these “efficient” exercises out of concern that it would. What are your thoughts? I look forward to your feedback. Best. -J. Coleman
I been hearing a lot about a supplement called HMB free acid and how good it is
G’day Will,
It would be of some value to those training with resistance to understand why at times of extreme exertion that a migraine type headache will develop for a very short period during and post set. I have had such instances happen on half a dozen times over the years with a resulting dull ache then to continue on for a couple of days and then pass; no more training for that day either as any further exertion will trigger same. I have researched this on other web sites and discussions have centred around hydration, warm up, … prior to training. As I recall my onset was mostly when I was not totally rested. All medical tests show no issues. At early fifties, and weight training on and off for 40 years, I and others I am sure would be interested if you would comment please.
What is your opinion on the use of peptides derived from colostrum; e.g. Bio=Gro?