The Model Health Show: Nutrition | Exercise | Fitness | Health | Lifestyle

Meditation or medication? Today, more than ever, it’s a choice that many of us have to make. We live at a time of great distraction, and terrible health influences around every bend. When I walked into the restaurant where I’m writing this, I strolled past a glass case of desserts where there was a rice crispy bar made out of Fruity Pebbles that I swear called my name. It’s a different world, and we have different means for coping with it. Exercise, great food, great sleep, great companionship… all of those things lean towards creating a healthy, successful life. But I feel that one of the greatest tools we have available to us still isn’t talked about enough. That’s why I wanted to do this brand new episode. Meditation has been found to reduce your risk of heart attack (The Stroke Journal, 2009), reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression (Psychosomatic Medicine, 2009), increase focus and attention (University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2007), improve your libido (yep… The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 2009), and so

Where did we get the idea that a tight, toned core was the ideal thing to have? Aesthetics have long been a part of human culture, for sure. But, collectively WE get to choose what’s beautiful… and WE get to choose what’s ideal. Did you know that in some cultures, having some jelly on your belly is actually a sign of good health and wealth? True story. Not every culture values the sacred six-pack. And that’s ok. Because I think that all of us are missing the point. The most important thing about our core is that it actually works! The muscles, fat, and fascia that make it up. Plus, all of the internal organs inside of it are what really give it significance. There are some folks with some nice fat on their waistline with phenomenal health in the function of their core. While there are also people with shredded six-packs whose core function is about as good as one of those traveling carnival rides. Sure, I know this looks like a dependable rollercoaster, but tomorrow it will be nowhere in sight (and all I’ll h

Discipline is often associated with all kinds of negativity. But, what if I were to tell you that healthy discipline was the key to creating the life of your dreams? Not your ethnic background, not your socioeconomic status, not your sex, not your age, not any of that stuff. Discipline is the key to getting you from where you are to where you want to be. Now, this isn’t just a hypothesis. I’ve got the proof to back it up. In fact, I’ve got the ultimate case study. My guest today is largely considered to be one of the most successful fitness entrepreneurs in the world. And he definitely didn’t have the odds in his favorite when he started out. As you’ll find out today, I think it’s suffice to say that he actually had the odds stacked against him. He found a way to make his mark. And discipline took him from good to great. Bedros Keuilian is the definition of a living legend. But he’ll be the first to tell you that you are here to create your own personal legend. Plus, he’s the guy to help you to do it. He show

The more we find out about our genes, the more fascinating our potential becomes. It’s important to realize that our genes don’t control our lives. In fact, in many ways it’s the opposite. There are thousands of things we can do to influence our genetic expression. And that’s where the real adventure begins. Today you’re going to discover some little known facts about your genes that might just change your life forever. You see, even though we humans have upwards of 20,000 genes we share collectively, some of those genes can misbehave. Our normally clean, well-functioning genes can get “dirty” and lead to some serious health issues as a result. Diseases aren’t just a collection of symptoms that appear on the surface. Diseases are usually rooted in problems all the way down at the level of your genes. And it should make perfect sense, right? Your genes are essentially determining which “copies” out of you are getting printed out. If the you genes are dirty, those copies can end up being pretty crumby. So, in t

Success leaves clues. We have a remarkable opportunity today to learn from people who’ve turned their wildest dreams into reality. At no other time in history have these superheroes been so accessible. Videos, podcasts, social media interaction, live events; there’s so many ways to learn from the very best people in the world. This episode is another opportunity to take advantage of that! Eric “ET” Thomas is largely considered to be the top motivational speaker in the world. He’s been able to impact the lives of millions, and create a remarkable life in the process. Because of his level of impact, ET can command 6-figures for him to do a presentation. But what many people don’t see is that when he flies into a city to speak, he’ll often set up several other free speaking events… at middle schools, detention centers, and for at-risk youth. You see, ET was once a homeless at-risk youth himself. He’s learned a lot along his journey. And he can speak to anyone, at any level, and add value to their life because of

We take for granted that products on the store shelves are, not only good for us, but safe as well. Little do we realize that industries involved in things like supplements and personal care products are largely unregulated. To take it even further… many companies are allowed to use ingredients that are known to be toxic to the human body (several of them banned in other countries outside the U.S.). Yet, we here we are brushing, rubbing, shampooing, and soaking ourselves in chemical soups each day, blind-as-a-bat to the hazardous effects (and keep these products out of your eyes or it might not just be a figure of speech). The issue is so grand, but I wanted to put a nice PSA together to talk about a few of the most pervasive and problematic chemicals in popular personal care products. Take good notes, and take action on what you see fit. And definitely share this one out with the people you care about as well. Enjoy! In this episode you'll discover: The surprising percentage of compounds that can enter your

Stress can be ruthless. It’s a silent assassin that can break down your brain, screw up your internal organs, and pack fat onto your body. But… That’s only one face of stress. Stress can also be invigorating. It’s capable of making you more physically fit, biologically stronger, and literally keep your brain decades younger. So, how in the world can it be so good, yet so treacherous at the same time? Today we’re going to dissect the value of stress to maximize the benefits, and minimize the potential downfalls. There really isn’t anything more valuable to create a great body, build emotional fitness, and shape a great life overall, than utilizing the gift of stress. It may even sound like an oxymoron, “the gift of stress”, but what you learn from legendary health expert and bestselling author Ori Hofmekler today will help you understand exactly what I mean. If you’re going to live a long, fruitful life, you’ve got to make stress your ally. Click play and find out how right now! In this episode you'll discover

What if the mere act of setting a goal could help you achieve anything you want? Life would seem stranger than fiction, for sure. But, what if I told you that the act of setting a goal in a certain way would bring you face-to-face with the things you most dream about and desire? Well, this is not fiction; this is fact. And, today, we’ve got the science to prove it. The problem is that most people don’t set their goals using the parameters that actually work. We can have, be, and do so much more than we give ourselves credit for. At the same time, a goal without a plan is just a wish. Lots of folks wish for things and call them goals. But goals entail following a formula, goals entail having a specific mindset, and goals entail far more than the acquisition of things. Goals are also about who you become in the process. Today we get to learn from one of the foremost experts in the world on setting and accomplishing goals. Not only has he curated the science behind it, but he has used the formula to create a lif

Imagine what it’s like to have a loved one who means that world to you… someone you’ve spent years building memories with. And suddenly, they no longer remember who you are. Imagine how heartbroken you’d be if a parent, friend, or the love of your life no longer recognizes your face. Sometimes memory loss take other shapes too. Maybe, they remember you, but no longer remember the time you spend with them right now. Their short-term memories simply get washed away every so often, and the person you know is no longer there. This is a scary situation, and I only bring it up because I truly feel there is something we can do about this. I also feel that the vast majority of people have no idea just how pervasive these situations I’ve described above are in our world today. You’ll be shocked to discover just how rapidly conditions like Alzheimer’s, dementia, and memory loss are skyrocketing to the very top of life-threatening disabilities today. Alzheimer’s disease isn’t just a set of heartbreaking symptoms, it’s a

This might be one of the most important shows I’ve ever done. There really is nothing more important than harboring safe passage for our new babies into the world. And there’s nothing more important than making sure that moms are happy, healthy, and supported along the way. Today, you’ll hopefully be a little shocked to find out how our conventional medical system has been failing families. You’re going to learn some statistics that will blow your mind! But, more importantly, hopefully you’ll be propelled to take action to help make changes for the positive. Whether it’s through your own birthing process, the birthing process of a significant other or family member, or sharing the information out to your community, we all can make a huge difference starting right now. Dr. Christiane Northrup is an obstetrician and gynecologist with decades of experience. She’s also the bestselling author of several books and one of the world’s leading advocates for women’s health and wellness. She’s on the show today to share

You may be shocked to hear that most of us are terrible at burning fat today. It’s not because we’re not trying hard, it’s not because we’re not capable--it’s because our metabolism has been programmed to burn glucose instead of burning fat. Let me explain… Since time immemorial, humans have survived with very little carbohydrates in our diet. Carbohydrates, as you’re probably aware, are the big gun behind spiking glucose and filling your cells with glucose reserves. Carbs fill your cellular piggy bank that you pinch off of all the time. If there’s easy access glucose available, that’s what your body’s going to burn for fuel. Burning fat is a much harder job, biochemically speaking. So, why in the world would your body go through the trouble to break down and spend stored body fat when it’s got so many glucose coins around? Short answer: It won’t. This wouldn’t even be such a problem if it weren’t for the fact that we’re swimming in carb-dominant foods today. Some with a little longer history… potatoes, rice,

In the words of Lauren Hill, “It could all be so simple… but you’d rather make it hard.” The action steps to creating the success we want, be it in our health, our career, our finances, or anything else, are unequivocally simple. But, every-single-day many of us fall flat on our faces trying to execute on the actions necessary. Here’s the thing… nobody tripped us. Nobody pushed us down onto the floor. Dare I say, we actually trip ourselves? It’s like walking along throughout the day knowing that our shoes strings are untied. It’s just a matter of time before we stumble. Self-sabotage carries many different faces, and one of the most sinister is the face of unpreparedness. On your path to achieving what you want, stuff is going to happen. It is what it is. And, if you’re not prepared, then you are metaphorically looking down at your shoes strings blowing in the wind as you decide to take off on a dead sprint. Face plant, here I come! We’re typically not prepared to follow through on the simple action steps to

Bipedal walking is one of the most distinguishing characteristics of human beings. Unlike most other creatures (and especially other mammals), we are designed to travel around on our own two legs. What’s so fascinating is that our ability to walk on two legs activates some pretty magnificent neuroendocrine programming. Walking makes essentially everything in your body work better. And although this has been postulated for thousands of years, today we’ve got the science to prove it. The benefits of walking have been touted since Hippocrates said that, “Walking is man’s best medicine.” That’s a pretty strong statement from the man who’s considered to be the Father of Modern Medicine. For him to make an assessment like that, walking would have to provide some pretty remarkable results. Was his tunic not wrapped right, or was he really on to something? Even with rudimentary assessments you could see that walking made people feel better. Today, you’ll finally discover what’s going on behind the scenes, and just ho

When we try to change our lives by trying to change our actions, we’ll often times find ourselves falling short. This is because trying to change our actions is like trimming the branches of the problem. The problem is still there (only prettier). The real change happens by targeting the roots. And the roots are your self-perception. Every thought you think and corresponding action you take is based on the beliefs that you carry about yourself. Your mind is constantly playing a message to itself in the vein of, “I’m the type of person that…” You think, say, and do the things based on the type of person you believe yourself to be. Anything too far outside of those beliefs is generally off limits. And this is why change can be so hard. The solutions starts with targeting those roots and “growing” your self-esteem. How can you have a new and better life if you don’t truly feel you’re worthy of a new and better life? Without doing an overhaul on your self-esteem and reprogramming your mental settings, you’ll find

There are a lot of different ways to look at strength. The typical definition revolves around a capacity for exertion or endurance. You can see strength on the field, strength in the gym, and strength on the track in its various forms. But, there’s another definition of strength that is often overlooked. It’s the ability to resist force. Strength isn’t just exerting your force on the world, it’s also being strong enough to handle it when the world’s exerting its for on you. And that’s why you need to build other muscles besides the ones that make you look good in a T-shirt. That’s why I called in Jay Ferruggia. Jay knows a thing or 500 about building muscles and getting stronger. Today he’s going to talk to you about progressive overload and other crucial things to help you keep getting fitter as the years roll on. More importantly, Jay is going to drop some serious knowledge on building your relationship muscles, and how to ensure that you’re strong enough to handle it when the world decides to drop a flying

Every second of everyday, our minds and bodies are transforming. Transformation is a part of life. But all transformations are not created equal. Personally, I’ve transformed from a thriving athlete, into a couch potato with extra cheese and bacon bits. I’ve transformed from being incredibly self-centered, to dedicating my life each day to serving others. I’ve transformed many times in my life (as you have too!). Some for the good, and some for the not-so-good. But, the point is that transformation is a given. It’s always happening whether you realize it or not. And the key is to get out in front of that transformation to guide your mind, body, and spirit where you want it to be. How we transform, and what we transform into, is up to us more than we may realize. Part of the challenge with transforming our lives for the better is due to the struggles that we carry from our past. The things we’ve been through may carry a tone of, “You’ll never be able to accomplish it.” “Who do you think you are?” “No one you k

It’s time for a gut check. Even the smallest digestive problems can be a sign of some bigger issues bubbling up. Although you may not have any noticeable symptoms of digestive distress, and instead have skin issues, struggles with your energy, joint pain, or other health challenges, today you’ll discover how many of those things are connected to the action happening in your belly. One of the glaring issues we might notice when digestion is a little (or a lot) off is a distended belly. Being bloated is not fun, and it definitely does not make us feel sexier. Today, you’ll learn a plethora of ways to knock bloating out for good. We have the author of the bestselling books The Bloat Cure, Gut Bliss, and The Microbiome Solution, Dr. Robynne Chutkan. She’s a wealth of knowledge on a subject that we all need to be more informed about. Just push play, take good notes, and enjoy! In this episode you'll discover: Why the topic of bloating needs a greater focus by the medical and health community. How I personally str

Have you ever thought about how much humans are like computers? We have hardware. We have software. We can catch viruses. We process data in the form of everything from food to ideas. And, like a computer, our real power shows when we link up with other computers around the planet to affect change. Now that we know how similar humans are to computers, let me ask you a question. Have you ever thought about who programmed you? Yep, just like a computer, you get programmed to execute specific functions in a specific way. Your programming, most of which was done at an early age, creates the parameters by which you will live your life. Your programming creates the beliefs you carry about what you’re capable of, how you will interact with other people’s programming, and, most importantly, how you perceive reality. Your perception is your reality. We unconsciously create a world to affirm all of the ideas we’re programmed with. We are built that way. And, if you ever try to move up against the barriers of that progr

This is a whole new definition of food fighting. Whether we realize it or not, plants don’t necessarily want to end up on your plate. And, as you’ll discover today, they’ve developed highly sophisticated means of making sure their species lives on. Now, for many of the foods we eat today, humans have been breeding some of these plants' defenses out of them. While several other plants have chemical weapons that are stronger than ever. On today’s show we have New York Times bestselling author Dr. Steven Gundry. He went from being one of the most successful and sought after heart surgeons in the world, to completely shifting his focus to treating his patients with food. Why? Because it worked! Buckle your seatbelt, and prepare to have your paradigm changed. This one is definitely a game-changer in more ways than one. Most importantly, this can be the moment you find real solutions for some nagging health issues. Enjoy! In this episode you'll discover: Why nutrition programs at universities teach health principl

There’s a Japanese proverb that says, “You have three faces. The first face, you show to the world. The second face, you show to your close friends, and your family. The third face, you never show anyone. It is the truest reflection of who you are.” This statement reflects something beautiful, chilling, and very real about how we operate as human beings. We all wear masks. And it’s not a bad thing. We put on masks to accentuate different parts of our character. Sometimes you might put on the mask of a strong leader, while at other times you wear the mask of a humble servant. You might put on the mask of the tough guy or girl to draw a line in the sand and get your point across, while at other times you wear the mask of vulnerability, letting your guard down to whatever life may bring. We can pick these masks up and put them down. It’s healthy, it’s natural, and it’s embedded in how we connect. But, what happens when a mask gets stuck on? First of all, please know that you’ve definitely had this happen before!