Don Saladino: [00:00:00] It’s simply fascinating to me now. Everybody’s received this intelligent manner of twisting issues and justifying it. Do I believe it’s in Hollywood so much? Sure. Do I believe you’re going to see it in Hollywood extra now? Sure. As a result of loads of these hormones are going to change into so simply obtainable to loads of these actors. And I believe it actually comes all the way down to, , who’s keen to take that dive or not.
Don Saladino: And I’m actually not working with individuals one-on-one anymore, but when I used to be, I assume it could get to a degree the place I’d be coaching individuals who in all probability wouldn’t even inform me about it as a result of they’d in all probability simply hold it from me. And, , pay attention, I don’t assume anybody in Hollywood—that is going to be type of a kick to loads of them—however I don’t assume anybody in Hollywood seems so superb that I’d say a human being can’t try this.
Mike Matthews: Hey, and welcome to a brand new episode of Muscle for Life. I’m your host, Mike Matthews. Thanks for becoming a member of me at the moment to listen to from Don Saladino on [00:01:00] make diet and train work for very busy individuals who have very demanding and, in some instances, uncommon lives.
Mike Matthews: For instance, Hollywood stars, whom Don has labored extensively with, but in addition individuals who have restricted time for diet and train for different causes, like CEOs, individuals engaged on Wall Avenue, and others. And as Don has over 25 years of expertise and has greater than 40,000 one-on-one teaching periods below his belt, he has rightfully earned a popularity because the go-to coach for Hollywood stars, skilled athletes, and busy professionals.
Mike Matthews: On this episode, he’s going to speak about how he approaches diet and coaching with these individuals. He’s additionally going to speak about [00:02:00] movie star transformations and the way what you see on the display isn’t at all times actuality. He discusses the position of lighting, and sure, he additionally talks about steroids. He shares his opinion on the position that steroids play in not less than among the extra spectacular movie star transformations that we’ve seen through the years.
Mike Matthews: Don talks about how he designs versatile and sustainable health and diet plans for his purchasers, and extra. We’ll get going with at the moment’s episode shortly, however first, I must inform you in regards to the fish oil complement that I take day-after-day. It’s referred to as Triton, and it’s from my sports activities diet firm, Legion.
Mike Matthews: Now, why do I take Triton day-after-day? Nicely, there are two causes. The primary is that fish oil is without doubt one of the finest sources of omega-3 fatty acids, that are very important for lowering the chance of varied varieties of ailments, sustaining wholesome ranges of irritation, supporting psychological well being and cognitive perform, and extra.
Mike Matthews: The second cause is that, whereas it’s attainable to get sufficient omega-3 fatty acids out of your weight loss plan alone, it may be tough to do in the event you don’t commonly eat sufficient of sure meals like olive oil, avocado, nuts, and fatty fish. This is the reason analysis reveals that the common particular person’s weight loss plan supplies simply one-tenth of the quantity of omega-3s wanted to protect well being and forestall illness.
Mike Matthews: Now, even in the event you do eat sufficient of the appropriate meals to get sufficient omega-3s in your weight loss plan to take care of your well being, it’s nearly unimaginable to eat sufficient to get pleasure from among the advantages that require a few grams per day—like lowering irritation ranges and muscle soreness after train. And people two causes are why I believe fish oil is without doubt one of the few dietary supplements that principally everybody ought to think about [00:04:00] taking, no matter their circumstances or objectives.
Mike Matthews: And that’s the reason Legion sells a fish oil complement. Once more, it’s referred to as Triton. And it’s not simply any fish oil complement, in fact, as a result of at Legion, we don’t ever accept “ok.” It’s a one hundred pc re-esterified triglyceride fish oil made out of deep-water Peruvian anchovies and sardines caught by fisheries accepted by Associates of the Sea.
Mike Matthews: Now, that’s a mouthful, and it feels like loads of advertising puffery, nevertheless it’s not. First, re-esterified triglyceride fish oil is the gold commonplace of the totally different types available on the market as a result of it’s chemically just like the pure kind—the triglyceride kind—however due to the way it’s created, it’s extra bioavailable.
Mike Matthews: It’s extra immune to oxidation, incorporates considerably extra EPA and DHA (the particular omega-3 fatty acids we need to get from fish oil), and [00:05:00] has considerably fewer contaminants.
Mike Matthews: Now, second, relating to the fish that the oil comes from: small, cold-water, non-predatory fish like anchovies and sardines are very best as a result of they are often harvested ethically and sustainably, they usually comprise the bottom quantities of environmental toxins.
Mike Matthews: Third, Good friend of the Sea is a corporation that audits fisheries yearly to make sure they meet the very best requirements of moral, environmental, and sustainable aquaculture.
Mike Matthews: And that’s not all that makes Triton particular. It additionally incorporates no synthetic meals dyes, fillers, or different pointless junk. Each bottle is analyzed for purity and efficiency in a state-of-the-art, ISO 17025-accredited lab.
Mike Matthews: Triton is made within the USA with globally sourced substances in NSF-certified and FDA-inspected amenities that adhere to present good manufacturing follow requirements. And all of [00:06:00] that’s the reason Legion has bought over 150,000 bottles of Triton to over 50,000 clients, who’ve left over 1,000 five-star evaluations on Legion’s web site and Amazon.
Mike Matthews: And also you’ve accomplished loads of that all through your profession. You’ve labored with loads of celebrities who must dwell that manner. You’ve additionally labored with many busy businesspeople and others. These individuals have distinctive and bonafide challenges, and it’s not the identical as giving easy, cookie-cutter recommendation to, let’s say, a 25-year-old child who has actually nothing however time.
Mike Matthews: They’ll simply sit within the fitness center for 4 hours a day. These are two very totally different individuals. And you would say, effectively, yeah, I imply, the basic ideas apply the identical. However the way you truly apply them efficiently adjustments, proper?
Don Saladino: Yeah, 100%. And also you introduced up the movie star angle.
Don Saladino: I believe what most individuals don’t perceive is that they assume most of those Hollywood individuals have personal cooks and trainers with them on a regular basis, and that the whole lot is simply straightforward. I’ve truly labored—I’ve skilled over 40,000 one-hour periods in my life. That’s how a lot teaching I’ve accomplished since 1999.
Don Saladino: I used to be coaching just about 40 to 60 one-hour periods every week. I’m recognized for it. I’m generally known as the man who was getting up at 3 a.m. to open my membership at 3:45. I’ve accomplished extra teaching than—there are only a few individuals who’ve accomplished extra teaching than I’ve.
Don Saladino: I’ve labored with every kind of individuals—from Wall Avenue executives to accommodate mothers, to skilled athletes, to Hollywood stars.
Don Saladino: And I believe what’s fascinating about celebrities is that their lives are at all times totally altering. For instance, the Wall Avenue particular person wakes up each morning and they’re the identical particular person. I get up each morning as Don Saladino. I’m in my dwelling in Lengthy Island. I’ve my two children, my three canines, and my spouse.
Don Saladino: I’ve my enterprise. I journey, however there’s a monotony to my schedule. It’s grounded.
Don Saladino: With loads of these celebrities, they must change into totally different characters. They must change into totally different individuals for durations of time.
Don Saladino: A few of them can’t at all times bounce out and in of character. Some are extra what they name methodology actors, the place they keep within the position for a few months or no matter it’s. They’re consistently attempting to include an accent, or they’re doing this in a special time zone.
Don Saladino: They must be taught new abilities for the position. You recognize, I don’t find out about you, however I didn’t develop up sword combating. A number of my actors who’re within the Marvel motion pictures all of the sudden must do all these stunts they weren’t accustomed to doing.
Don Saladino: Being away from their household and dealing in these totally different environments the place the schedule is consistently altering might be powerful. One night time, they is perhaps working in a single day, and the following day, they’re on a day shift.
Don Saladino: Um, I don’t find out about you, however my schedule’s not like that. Positive, I alter time zones. Sure, I’ll be [00:11:00] in 4 or 5 totally different international locations within the subsequent few months. No drawback. That’s straightforward for me. However if you take somebody away from their household and put them in an unfamiliar surroundings with a brand new crowd of individuals—
Don Saladino: Beneath the stress of understanding that in the event that they get sick, they will’t take a time off—it’s a very totally different degree. I used to be considering the opposite day about after I was with Ryan Reynolds on Deadpool. He received strolling pneumonia at one level. He’s not going to name in and say, “Hey, I’m not coming in.” That’s simply not the way it works.
Don Saladino: This isn’t like somebody working at Goldman Sachs who says, “Oh, I’ve a chilly. I’ll earn a living from home at the moment.” It doesn’t work that manner in Hollywood. If something, I discover that working with people in Hollywood is commonly harder than working with skilled athletes.
Don Saladino: Positive, skilled athletes get injured, however so do actors. They’re breaking legs, breaking wrists, attempting to do their very own stunts in sure scenes, getting harm, breaking noses in struggle scenes, doing issues most of the people doesn’t see. And so they’re not skilled for this, proper?
Don Saladino: Tom Brady was skilled to be a quarterback.
Mike Matthews: There’s additionally an [00:12:00] incentive for the proprietor of Tom Brady’s crew to maintain him within the sport for as a few years as attainable.
Don Saladino: Yeah, I imply, actors come and go, too. So there’s at all times that stress. Instantly, some critics evaluations their efficiency. In sports activities, it feels simpler to measure success as a result of it’s clear. If the New York Mets win a sport 5-0 and go on a successful streak, they’re doing effectively. They make the playoffs, or they make the World Sequence. There’s the proof.
Don Saladino: However with a Hollywood actor, you may have somebody with an awesome popularity who goes in and delivers an outstanding efficiency, however there is perhaps a nasty director.
Don Saladino: Or there is perhaps dangerous modifying. Instantly, a film that was alleged to be critical comes out trying tacky, or it’s simply not what they anticipated. This occurs on a regular basis. Somebody’s profession can get smashed within the blink of an eye fixed.
Don Saladino: All it takes is one interview or somebody catching you in a nasty temper, and all of the sudden you’re a horrible [00:13:00] particular person.
Don Saladino: There’s this stress in Hollywood that I’ve seen. And pay attention, I’ve no cause to be saying this—I’m fully impartial as a result of I work with everybody, or I’ve labored with everybody. So I believe there’s a respect I’ve for lots of those actors and what they must do.
Don Saladino: And, pay attention, loads of them don’t train. Once they must prepare for a film, they’ll come to me and say, “Nicely, they’re telling me I’ve to get stronger and construct muscle.” I’ll ask, “What does that basically appear like? What do you imply?”
Don Saladino: They’ll say, “Nicely, they stated I’ve to placed on 10 kilos.” I’ll reply, “Do it’s a must to truly placed on 10 kilos, or do you simply must get stronger and seem to have placed on 10 kilos?”
Don Saladino: As a result of these are very various things in my ebook. Or they will look very totally different in my ebook. Let’s go on Google, pull up some photos, and work out the physique you’re attempting to create.
Don Saladino: Over my 25-plus years of working with these individuals, it’s been fascinating what number of totally different initiatives I’ve needed to analyze. Generally, it’s so simple as saying, “Nope. You’re high-quality, you’ve received two months.” [00:14:00] You’re precisely the place they need you to be. Let’s simply keep wholesome, keep resilient, and hold your vitality excessive. Let’s not push you to the purpose the place you go into taking pictures this position feeling like rubbish or fully exhausted.
Don Saladino: Let’s be sure you keep excessive vitality ranges. We don’t must overdo it, proper? It’s at all times a singular puzzle relying on what you’re serving to to create.
Mike Matthews: While you’re working with celebrities, Wall Avenue guys, or anybody with difficult schedules, they’re usually restricted in how a lot time they will dedicate to coaching.
Mike Matthews: Additionally they don’t essentially have quick access to excellent diet. Virtually talking, in the event you get all the way down to the tactical degree, how do you make that work for these individuals? While you’re creating their coaching and diet plans, what are among the belongings you’re contemplating? How do you lay it out for somebody who lives that type of life?
Don Saladino: Yeah, I imply, you’re speaking about creating, proper? You’ve received to get inventive. It doesn’t at all times imply coming in along with your “A-plan.” Truthfully, I don’t even know what my “A-plan” is as a result of what I do for myself day-after-day is simply the life-style I dwell 12 months a 12 months.
Don Saladino: Many of the actors or individuals I’ve labored with don’t strategy it the way in which I do. So, I believe it’s about assembly them the place they’re—understanding their general well being, vitality ranges, and basic items like sleep high quality, digestion, and stress.
Don Saladino: As a coach, you’re type of like a chef. When a chef is making ready a dish, they’ll attempt various things, style as they go, and regulate to make it work. Teaching is analogous. If you happen to’re a superb coach, you have a look at the person, their life-style, coaching historical past, and the time they’ve obtainable.
Don Saladino: Then you definately think about their persona. Are they somebody who follows guidelines simply, or are they somebody who struggles with construction? You’re taking all of that into consideration, after which you determine the very best strategy for that particular person.
Don Saladino: If I took my private plan and handed it to each one that needed to get ripped or in form, I don’t assume I’d be very profitable. Most individuals would have a look at it and say, “Yeah, no.”
Mike Matthews: They don’t want a coach for that—they may simply purchase a PDF on-line.
Don Saladino: Precisely. And who is aware of if that even works? The actual magic comes from understanding the particular person and tailoring the strategy to their wants.
Don Saladino: Yeah. And who is aware of if that even works? I believe the magic actually comes all the way down to understanding: what are you attempting to create? For instance, when I’ve to prepare for a Muscle & Health cowl—which I’ve been on 3 times since 2018—I don’t get loads of time to organize. 4, possibly 5 weeks tops.
Don Saladino: Throughout these 4 to 5 weeks, there’s no variability. Actually, there aren’t any cheat meals, not a sip of alcohol—not that I actually drink anyway. However it’s strict macros, coaching, and focus.
Don Saladino: Generally, after I work with individuals, relying on their persona, I’ll say, “Alright, we’re not far off. Preserve that cheat meal you want each Saturday night time.” They’ll reply, “However, however, however…” And I’ll say, “No, critically. We’ll have a look at you about 4 to 6 weeks out, and if we have to tighten issues up, we are going to. Proper now, the manufacturing firm says you’re proper the place it is advisable be. Let’s deal with conserving your sanity.”
Don Saladino: Until you’re making ready for one thing excessive—like {a magazine} cowl—you don’t must go all-in on a regular basis. Let’s can help you achieve success. It’s like these New Yr’s resolutions everyone seems to be diving into proper now.
Don Saladino: They wish to go all in with out giving themselves any aid. And, statistically, in a number of weeks, loads of them received’t be capable to sustain. So, yeah, this course of is so individualized. It’s so private.
Don Saladino: I promote packages on-line. I host challenges on my web site. However the cause I do challenges is that I can coach a big group of individuals, discuss to them, and say, “We have to regulate X, Y, and Z.” I assist them tweak their diet. It’s very not often a one-size-fits-all answer.
Mike Matthews: Are you able to [00:18:00] give some examples? I imply, it doesn’t must be celebrities, however possibly only a few totally different examples of approaches you’re taking with individuals—on each the coaching and diet sides. Like, “Right here’s a sort of particular person I work with, and right here’s how we are inclined to strategy their plan,” versus one other kind of particular person.
Don Saladino: Proper. I’ll have to make use of names as a result of most individuals received’t know Joe Schmo from down on Bowery, proper? So, Ryan Reynolds is a superb instance.
Don Saladino: He’s type of a robotic. We’ve been coaching collectively for 16 years. When it’s time for him to get in form, we assess him, have a look at how his physique is feeling, and work out what we will assign to him that may assist him achieve success.
Don Saladino: The aim is for him to get pleasure from coaching and really feel good when he leaves. It’s about asking, “What are we attempting to create? Do we have to simply tighten up? Do we have to develop his physique extra? Does he must get larger, smaller, or leaner? What precisely are we attempting to realize?”
Don Saladino: With somebody like Ryan, it’s straightforward as a result of he’s disciplined and devoted. We simply put him on cruise management, and he runs with it.
Don Saladino: Alternatively, I’ve labored with individuals the place the problem is the alternative. Generally, I’ve to say, “Oh my God, we truly must placed on physique fats.”
Don Saladino: For instance, somebody would possibly come to me and say, “The position I’m coaching for requires me to look much less ripped.” I’ll inform them, “You’re manner too lean proper now. This isn’t plausible in any respect.” They’ll reply, “I do know. This isn’t the physique of somebody from the Twenties.” And I’ll agree, “Precisely. This doesn’t make sense.”
Don Saladino: So, the query turns into, how can we do that whereas conserving you wholesome? How can we do that whereas nonetheless permitting you to coach and transfer the way in which you like to? So, let’s hold coaching, however how can we make changes so we’re not simply consuming McDonald’s day-after-day and destroying your well being? I nonetheless need us to get fiber and nutrient-dense meals, however we’ll must offset energy in sure methods.
Don Saladino: That’s ok—drive issues up. And, what? Positive, you need slightly ice cream each night time? I’ve received no drawback with that. Go to an natural ice cream retailer to keep away from the chemical compounds. The extra fats and pure sugar might help you get slightly softer and retain extra water.
Don Saladino: However meals high quality is at all times my precedence. I wish to hold it as excessive as attainable.
Mike Matthews: Sorry to interject, however it is a query I’ve gotten so much through the years, normally from guys however generally from ladies as effectively. They battle to realize weight whereas consuming principally nutritious meals. They don’t wish to drink a gallon of milk a day or eat quick meals.
Mike Matthews: Are there sure go-to meals you suggest for getting energy in a nutritious manner?
Don Saladino: Completely. First, gaining weight is extremely easy, however individuals are inclined to overcomplicate it. When somebody enters a bulking section, they usually assume it’s a free go to eat no matter they need.
Don Saladino: Now, monitoring diet is usually a large assist, nevertheless it’s not for everybody. Monitoring removes the guesswork. If you happen to’re logging your meals and I see that you simply’ve eaten 3,200 energy at the moment, damaged down into protein, carbs, and fat, I can regulate that.
Don Saladino: For somebody who eats intuitively, it’s more durable. They could say, “I eat wholesome—rooster, broccoli, candy potatoes, avocado, eggs, fruits, and berries.” However I don’t know in the event that they’re consuming 1,500 energy or 3,000 energy. That’s a very totally different story.
Don Saladino: For me, it’s simply math. Let’s say somebody’s aim is 200 grams of protein, 200 grams of carbs, and 100 grams of fats. That provides as much as 2,500 energy:
200 grams of protein = 800 energy (4 energy per gram)
200 grams of carbs = 800 energy (4 energy per gram)
100 grams of fats = 900 energy (9 energy per gram)
Don Saladino: If somebody is consuming 2,500 energy a day they usually eat 1,000 energy of their first meal, they could really feel so full for the following 5 hours that they don’t eat once more. That window to get extra energy in shrinks, making it more durable to hit their aim.
Don Saladino: Now, 2,500 energy is manageable in my ebook. But when somebody involves me needing 4,000 energy, that will get so much trickier.
Mike Matthews: That’s true, and it may be even harder for somebody smaller. Take, for instance, a petite lady who weighs 100 kilos.
Don Saladino: I truly had a girl in my problem neighborhood who began with me consuming 1,400 energy a day. Over a few 12 months, possibly a 12 months and a half, we labored her as much as 3,200 energy. She was extremely energetic, and through that point, she misplaced over 30 kilos.
Don Saladino: We couldn’t put her in any additional deficit, so we rebuilt her metabolism. We improved her vitality ranges, received her transferring extra, elevated her protein consumption, and certain added muscle. All these good issues got here collectively.
Don Saladino: Proper. So, we couldn’t put her in any extra of a deficit. Over time, we constructed her metabolism, improved her vitality ranges, received her transferring extra, stored her protein consumption excessive, in all probability added some muscle, and all these good issues occurred.
Don Saladino: However let’s return to these macros. For anybody listening, take into consideration this: 200 grams of protein, 200 grams of carbs, and 100 grams of fats. To me, that’s basic math.
Don Saladino: Now, what number of occasions a day do you wish to eat? If you happen to’re consuming 5 occasions a day, [00:24:00] for 200 grams of protein, what number of grams per meal is that? Forty. Forty grams per meal occasions 5 equals 200 grams. For carbs, it’s additionally 40 grams per meal. For fats, with 100 grams divided by 5 meals, that’s 20 grams per meal.
Don Saladino: So, in the event you’re consuming 5 occasions a day and have 40 grams of protein, 40 grams of carbs, and 20 grams of fats per meal, you’ll hit your 2,500 energy: 200 grams of protein, 200 grams of carbs, and 100 grams of fats. Simple arithmetic. And in the event you’re off by a number of grams, do I care? No.
Don Saladino: Now, if somebody needs to eat 4 occasions a day, the mathematics adjustments. The protein would go to 50 grams per meal, the carbs to 50 grams, and the fats to 25 grams per meal. It’s simply math.
Don Saladino: The error individuals make when attempting to realize or drop a few pounds is approaching it like, “Oh, I’m gaining weight, so I’ll simply eat so much.” A younger child wakes up at 8 or 9 within the morning and thinks, “I’ll eat 5 complete eggs with bacon, a ribeye steak, and butter.”
Don Saladino: Subsequent factor , they’ve consumed so many energy in a single meal that they’re full for the following 5 – 6 hours and might’t eat once more. They’ve eradicated all these alternatives to eat extra diet all through the day.
Don Saladino: For me, consuming isn’t nearly macronutrients. It’s in regards to the diet you’re getting—micronutrients. For instance, white rice is a superb carbohydrate, but when that’s all you’re consuming, it lacks dietary worth. There’s no fiber, no nutritional vitamins, no minerals.
Don Saladino: So, whereas I’d eat white rice, I additionally embrace different carb sources all through the day, like candy potatoes, berries, oats, and extra. I must hold my carbs excessive, and I ensure they arrive from quite a lot of sources.
Don Saladino: For anybody listening who’s attempting to realize or drop a few pounds, monitoring might be very useful. It’s not essential for everybody, nevertheless it eliminates a lot guesswork.
Don Saladino: For instance, if somebody’s consuming solely 15 grams of fiber a day, I’ll inform them, “That’s simply not sufficient. It’s essential be nearer to 25 grams.” Over a number of weeks, they’ll say, “Oh my God, I really feel fuller, I’m not craving junk at night time, and I’m beginning to drop a few pounds.”
Don Saladino: Humorous how that works, proper? While you enhance your diet, good issues occur.
Mike Matthews: And so far as particular person meals, are there sure ones you wish to not less than check out with purchasers?
Mike Matthews: And that might apply to shedding weight or gaining weight. For instance, when shedding weight, the extra nutritious, fiber-containing meals you may eat, the higher—they hold you full. A tip I received from Menno Henselmans that I’ve handed alongside is about zucchini soup.
Mike Matthews: He talked about in an interview that zucchini soup might be very filling. You may eat loads of it, and for some cause, zucchini particularly appears to work effectively for satiety. Not that there’s something magical about zucchini, however that was simply one thing he identified.
Don Saladino: That’s fascinating—actually fascinating. I don’t know Menno personally, however I’ve heard his identify, and I do know he’s extremely revered and good.
Don Saladino: Soup, for me, is difficult. It’s more durable to trace and keep on prime of the whole lot you’re placing in your physique. Zucchini is nice; it’s type of a “free” meals—you may eat loads of it with out worrying an excessive amount of.
Don Saladino: However that doesn’t imply somebody can stroll right into a restaurant, see zucchini soup on the menu, and order it with out contemplating what’s in it. You don’t know if it’s loaded with sugar, salt, or cream. Positive, it would style nice, however it’s a must to watch out.
Don Saladino: If somebody is attempting to get leaner, there are specific meals I lean towards. For instance, if I’m going right into a calorie deficit, I’d skip issues like jasmine rice and focus extra on candy potatoes.
Don Saladino: On the flip facet, if I’m in a bulking section, I’d embrace extra calorie-dense choices. For instance, a fibrous sprouted bagel might be nice for pumping up carbs. Brown rice is a bit more durable to eat in massive portions, however white rice is way simpler to eat if you want extra carbohydrates.
Don Saladino: Candy potatoes, for instance, aren’t very calorie-dense. Eight ounces of candy potato would possibly offer you round 50 grams of carbs. Examine that to an analogous quantity of white rice, and also you’re getting considerably extra carbohydrates.
Don Saladino: For bulking, I even have a number of secret weapons. Dates, as an example, are superb—excessive in fiber and pure sugar. 5 dates offer you round 100 grams of carbohydrates, they usually’re extremely straightforward to eat. Round exercises, incorporating meals like dates could make hitting your macros a lot simpler.
Don Saladino: After I’m bulking, there’s extra flexibility with some of these meals. However when it’s time to get “cowl prepared,” issues tighten up. For instance, I’m about 215 kilos now, however after I’m on a canopy shoot, I’ll normally be round 207. That’s not a large distinction, however by tightening up the varieties of meals I eat, I can create a degree of “dryness” in my physique with out having to dehydrate.
Don Saladino: For my final 4 shoots—three with Muscle & Health and one with Males’s Well being—I didn’t dehydrate in any respect. I went in with a glance that’s attainable and sustainable.
Don Saladino: I’ve been a drug-free athlete my complete life—not that it makes me higher or worse than anybody else. It’s simply my selection. I’ve been doing common blood work for in all probability 30 years. I began going to Dr.Gary Wadler, who was concerned within the congressional hearings for the entire steroid scandal in baseball—that’s how way back I began doing blood work. I used to be going to him at 16 or 17 years outdated, sitting and speaking about my blood work, lengthy earlier than individuals had been even discussing it.
Don Saladino: After I began coaching, was I studying so much? Probably not, however type of. Because the years went on and this turned extra of an accepted follow, and folks began understanding what optimization was, that’s when individuals started exploring the chances.
Don Saladino: However why would I take one thing if I wasn’t poor in a sure space? If my blood work is in a very good place—which I credit score to the final 30 years of the way in which I dwell—why would I add one thing to it? I’ll be 48 in April, and my blood work has at all times been stable.
Don Saladino: Positive, might I get larger? May I get stronger? In all probability. However I don’t know the long-term ramifications of taking these issues. I don’t understand how it could have an effect on my growing old course of or how my physique would possibly reply sooner or later.
Don Saladino: Possibly for some individuals, we’re seeing advantages. Take a look at Stallone—he’s virtually 80 years outdated, nonetheless working, nonetheless doing loopy stuff. Applause to him. However there are others who aren’t as lucky or don’t have the identical sources.
Don Saladino: I’ll have gone slightly off-topic there, however the level is, there’s so much to consider.
Don Saladino: I want extra individuals took possession of this. If you happen to’re taking one thing, brazenly admit it. Today, we’re listening to bodybuilders and others on the web speak about it extra brazenly, and I believe that’s a superb factor. It needs to be disclosed. If you happen to’ve taken one thing, simply admit it.
Don Saladino: That honesty and openness are necessary, particularly for the youthful children who’re watching.
Mike Matthews: And don’t name it TRT if it’s a steroid dose. If you happen to’re working your testosterone at 5,000 ng/dL, let’s be trustworthy—that’s not TRT.
Don Saladino: Precisely. My testosterone has improved considerably over the past three years. My whole testosterone—this isn’t free—went from about 680 to 930. And persons are like, “Oh, you’re on one thing.” No, I’m not.
Don Saladino: And even when I used to be, it could be increased than that. Let’s be actual—it wouldn’t even be definitely worth the injection if that’s all it was.
Don Saladino: Individuals simply don’t know what they’re speaking about. They ask, “How’d you try this?” Nicely, I ended commuting three hours a day into town. I ended waking up at 3 a.m. and began waking up at 5:50 a.m.
Don Saladino: You assume which may have one thing to do with it? It’s not simply in regards to the chilly plunges or the sauna. Positive, I do these issues, however take into consideration what I simply stated—I improved my sleep by two hours.
Mike Matthews: So bedtime stayed the identical; you’re simply getting extra sleep now.
Don Saladino: Precisely. I’m getting extra sleep.
Don Saladino: I’ve at all times been somebody who doesn’t go to mattress previous 9. Again then, I’d go to mattress at 9 and get up between three and 4 a.m. Now, I’m waking up at 5:50. You don’t assume that additional sleep makes a distinction?
Don Saladino: Plus, eliminating the stress of proudly owning gyms in New York Metropolis has been large for my high quality of life. I ran gyms within the metropolis for 15 years. My overhead was $2 million a 12 months simply to interrupt even, and I had two areas plus a digital firm.
Don Saladino: While you remove all of that stress, your high quality of life improves, and also you simply change into happier. It’s a special section of my life, and yeah, issues are going to enhance. They don’t at all times must worsen as you age. However I do assume there must be much more training on the market relating to these items.
Mike Matthews: We’ll get again to at the moment’s episode shortly, however first, I wish to inform you about my bestselling health ebook for males who wish to achieve as much as 35 kilos of lean muscle, lose as a lot fats or extra, and do it in simply 3 to five hours of coaching per week—with out giving up scrumptious meals or doing grueling exercises.
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Mike Matthews: Whereas we’re on the subject, let’s speak about Hollywood. It’s at all times a supply of controversy. Lots of people are fast responsible steroids at any time when somebody seems actually good for a film. “Oh, yeah, they’re in all probability on one thing.” In lots of instances, in all probability not, and in some instances, possibly. What are your ideas? Not asking you to call anybody, in fact, however you’ve seen loads of this behind the scenes.
Don Saladino: Completely, I can speak about this. I’d say there’s in all probability just one different coach I do know who has labored with extra individuals in Hollywood than I’ve, and that’s Gunner Peterson. Gunner’s a superb buddy of mine, and we joke about it. I say, “Gunner, it’s solely since you’re older than me!”
Don Saladino: He’s 60 and appears like he’s 40—one of many nicest guys. He’s one in all my favorites.
Don Saladino: Hear, I don’t assume anybody in Hollywood seems so superb that I’d say a human being can’t obtain that naturally.
Mike Matthews: Some would argue it’s in regards to the time. They’d say, “Alright, however they solely have two months to realize all that muscle.”
Don Saladino: Honest level, completely truthful. However let me offer you an instance. I labored with Hugh Jackman 18 years in the past, when he transitioned from The Boy from Oz to Wolverine in Australia.
Don Saladino: I’m not working with him now—he has an awesome coach in Texas—however again then, I knew precisely what he was consuming, the dietary supplements he was taking, and the way we had been coaching.
Don Saladino: He was an intense man, however let’s be trustworthy—he’s an actor. You deliver him right into a hardcore fitness center like Bev Francis’s Powerhouse Gymnasium, and I might present you 200 guys twice as large and twice as robust as he was. However as a result of it’s Hollywood, with the lights, the cameras, and the massive display, individuals assume it’s unattainable.
Don Saladino: Just lately, there was this man—Alan Ritchson, I believe, the man from Jack Reacher. He was doing an interview and stated one thing like, “I skilled so laborious, I depleted all my testosterone in eight months.” That was his justification for taking exogenous testosterone.
Mike Matthews: Proper, and that was his excuse for utilizing it.
Don Saladino: Precisely! I rolled my eyes at that. Simply be trustworthy—say you needed to be huge, so that you took it. One in all my closest associates, a big-time powerlifter, had children come as much as him and ask, “How’d you get so large?” He straight-up informed them, “Medication.”
Don Saladino: I misplaced it—it was so humorous. However then we informed the children, “Don’t do medication. It’s not wholesome.” And my buddy agreed. He’s like, “Yeah, it’s not wholesome, however if you wish to raise ungodly quantities of weight and be a world-record holder, there are specific belongings you’ll must do.”
Don Saladino: It’s apparent if you have a look at the world’s strongest males. Their measurement and power don’t occur naturally—it’s simply actuality. However in Hollywood, I want extra individuals took possession.
Don Saladino: I’ve had pure actors come to me, annoyed, saying, “So-and-so confirmed up smaller than me, and two months later, he’s twice my measurement!” I inform them, “Keep in your lane. You don’t must appear like that on your position. Bear in mind, there’s a price to doing enterprise. That’s the choice you’ve made.”
Don Saladino: I can’t depend how a lot enterprise I’ve misplaced as a result of I don’t cope with that stuff. Main athletes and Hollywood stars have come to me with questions on medication, and I inform them, “I’m not the man for that.”
Mike Matthews: Proper, since you’ve determined to not get into that world.
Don Saladino: Precisely. I’ve made a aware selection. Why would I educate myself on one thing I’m not going to make use of? I at all times inform them, “If you happen to’re contemplating it, go converse to a professional doctor, not a coach, regardless of how good they assume they’re.”
Don Saladino: Work with a medical skilled who can monitor your bloodwork, assess your well being, and information you correctly. 9 out of ten occasions, they’d stroll out and by no means come again.
Don Saladino: It was a call I made—not as a result of I believe I’m higher than anybody, however as a result of I needed to deal with one thing else. I put my vitality into understanding manipulate physique composition, enhance efficiency, and improve aesthetics. That’s what I’m obsessed with, and I believe that’s why I’ve constructed the popularity I’ve in Hollywood.
Mike Matthews: Do you assume there’s a normal notion on the market that steroids are accountable for lots of Hollywood transformations?
Would you say that you simply agree or disagree with that assertion primarily based in your expertise?
Don Saladino: I believe it’s on the market so much. I believe it’s, I believe it’s in all probability on the market much more now or some kind of… After I say manipulation, [00:45:00] I imply, yeah, like, oh, effectively, your testosterone’s at 300. It’s slightly low. I buried my finest buddy in 2010.
Don Saladino: He was my head coach and, um, he didn’t have a household. We needed to declare rights to his physique. Um, in any other case it goes to one thing referred to as Potter’s Discipline in New York. So they really needed to maintain his physique for 2 weeks. I needed to go all the way down to metropolis corridor. I needed to declare his physique. I, they lastly gave me rights to his physique.
Don Saladino: I needed to establish him two weeks after he died, which is without doubt one of the hardest issues I’ve ever needed to do. And I needed to bury him. And after we did this, I had an post-mortem accomplished as a result of I needed to know—he’s 43. Proper. So 2000, , 2010, that’s 14, 15 years in the past for me. I’m—shit—I’m 33. Ten years older than me, roughly.
Don Saladino: And, um, , his T ranges had been north of 3000. And I simply noticed… I simply noticed this horrible, , downward spiral he went on, and this can piss lots of people off as a result of the individuals taking it don’t assume they’re all, effectively, you didn’t have [00:46:00] anybody monitoring it. Bullshit. He did have individuals monitoring it.
Don Saladino: He knew what he was doing. He simply, it received to a degree the place he turned hooked on this sense that he simply stored taking an increasing number of and extra and he couldn’t get off of it. Then when he received off it, he felt worse. So he took extra. And guess what? That’s what a drug addict does. Proper. So even with one thing like testosterone, which most individuals say, effectively, it’s not, it’s cute.
Don Saladino: It’s not a, it’s not a steroid. It’s not. Yeah, however it may be abused and it may be abused. I’m sorry.
Mike Matthews: I imply, it, it, it factually is a steroid hormone as effectively. Like, uh, in accordance with the dictionary, I imply, I don’t know.
Don Saladino: Based on the dictionary. Sure. However like, I imply, lots of people will begin categorizing issues now otherwise.
Don Saladino: Like, effectively, it’s not Tren and it’s not a Dianabol. However in fact that these are coping mechanisms. Precisely. Precisely. And I’m glad you, I’m glad you gave that type of side-eye look there as a result of, um, generally if I’ve a dialog with somebody, they’re like, they’ll come at you, assault you. Simply the opposite day, I heard somebody [00:47:00] on the web saying, effectively, is it, is it creatine a managed substance now?
Don Saladino: Isn’t that such as you assume they had been attempting to place creatine on the extent of taking a hormone? And I’m like, what are you speaking about? Like creatine’s in meat. How is that the identical?
Mike Matthews: Yeah, I don’t wish to eat like 4 steaks a day. So I take a gram of creatine monohydrate or take a, I take slightly scooper of creatine monohydrate.
Don Saladino: Yeah. So it’s simply, it’s fascinating to me now. Everybody’s received this intelligent manner of twisting issues and, and justifying it. Do I believe it’s in Hollywood so much? Sure. Do I believe you’re going to see it in Hollywood extra now? Sure, as a result of loads of these hormones are going to change into so simply obtainable. To loads of these actors, and I believe it actually comes all the way down to, , who’s keen to take that dive or not.
Don Saladino: And, uh, it’s going—I imply, I’m actually not working with individuals one-on-one anymore, but when I used to be, I assume it could get to a degree the place I’d be coaching individuals, in all probability wouldn’t even find out about it as a result of they’d in all probability simply hold it from me. And, , they’d have another man for that and, , that’s it. [00:48:00]
Don Saladino: Yeah, it’s, it’s, it’s—that’s this. These are the issues which can be occurring now, however to reply your query, I believe it’s seen much more than we expect.
Mike Matthews: Fascinating. And for individuals listening, uh, questioning why that’s, it’s just because these medication work actually, very well. So it’s been proven in analysis, for instance, that, uh, merely taking steroids—I’m considering of 1 examine particularly—can produce extra.
Mike Matthews: And this was simply testosterone. And it wasn’t essentially a—it was tremendous physiological, nevertheless it wasn’t essentially the massive bodybuilder dose. So simply taking testosterone can produce extra muscle progress in an untrained particular person, uh, over the course of, I wish to say the examine was 10 to 12 weeks, than coaching and consuming effectively.
Mike Matthews: So simply take into consideration that.
Don Saladino: Yeah. Okay. In order that, which may assist that, which may assist loads of these actors out, however—
Mike Matthews: No, I’m not endorsing it. I imply, such as you, uh, I’m going to remain drug-free so long as I can. If my testosterone, if I’m 75 years outdated and it’s 200 NGDL, I’ve accomplished the whole lot I can. My high quality of life sucks.
Mike Matthews: My dick doesn’t work, et cetera, et cetera. Yeah, I’m, I’m, I’m getting on [00:49:00] TRT.
Don Saladino: I at all times surprise, I at all times surprise by, by, by then, proper? Like, let’s say somebody—I believe somebody requested me this not too long ago, such as you’re 80. And, , all of the sudden issues have developed a lot. I imply, that’s 32, 33 years from now, proper? It’s, , take into consideration what we’re going to have entry to.
Don Saladino: Take into consideration 32, 33 years in the past to 32, 33 years from now. It’s like, who is aware of what we have now entry to by then, however like, are you taking it? And I’m like, I don’t know. It’s like, I don’t know if that by then I’m like, fuck it. I’m simply, , I’ve gone this lengthy already and I’m simply going to show my head and trip it out.
Mike Matthews: I imply, theoretically although, proper, in case your high quality of life—as a result of as you in all probability know, there are true medical signs the place you would completely make a superb argument that as a person residing with clinically low testosterone is unhealthy. And so in the event you’ve accomplished the whole lot you may to deliver that up naturally, and that’s it—it’s simply—
Mike Matthews: You recognize, your physique is outdated and worn out, and it’s [00:50:00] residing like that or exogenous. You in all probability might make only a easy internet advantages argument for the exogenous.
Don Saladino: Completely, completely, completely, um, one hundred pc. An awesome buddy of mine that, um, was blown up in Afghanistan. He had like over 30 surgical procedures. Nostril was blown off his head. Jaw bolts went by means of his face. Arm was blown off, reattached, and it received to the purpose the place he lastly received on one thing, and he received throughout an unimaginable hurdle, and he’s residing an unimaginable life. His physique composition is in a superb place. His vitality degree is excessive, and he’s pleased. And I’m like, “Oh my God, go, go, go.”
Don Saladino: Um, I’ve had purchasers in right here that I’ve labored with. I’ve had individuals I’ve labored with which can be 872 kilos. I’ve had a man who began with me right here—a buddy—who was 5 and 1 / 4, and he truly by no means needed to take something. He’s so scared about even taking like Manjaro or a kind of, um, , a kind of peptides.
Don Saladino: Yeah, a kind of GLP-1s. So, um, , I believe, once more, it’s to every his personal. I believe sure persons are actually nervous in regards to the long-term results, however like I stated, [00:51:00] God, 30 years from now, we’re going to know so much.
Mike Matthews: Completely. You talked about earlier—coming again to Hollywood—I don’t wish to belabor it, nevertheless it’s simply one thing you talked about that I made a psychological be aware to come back again to. It’s how large of a distinction lighting and digital camera could make.
Mike Matthews: And I believe the rationale I wish to deliver it up is only for individuals listening, to be sure that in the event that they’re going to match themselves to issues, they not less than perceive what they’re seeing and what they’re evaluating themselves to.
Don Saladino: It’s unbelievable what they will do with lighting and digital camera angles.
Don Saladino: And, oh my God, it’s unimaginable. And it’s not to remove the form that loads of these actors must get into—they work laborious—they usually, um, and once more, bear in mind, this isn’t their craft. This isn’t like, they’re not a bodybuilder, , they’re not knowledgeable athlete that’s been doing this most of their life.
Don Saladino: And they also know loads of occasions they arrive in right here, they must be taught these abilities, , to have the ability to get any such form, proper? You [00:52:00] flip to Sebastian Stan, and he’s received to resistance prepare for Avengers, they usually’re like, “However no, Seb, you’ve received to do three hours of sword struggle coaching a day.”And he’s like, what, like, what are you speaking about? These are issues individuals don’t take into consideration. That’s stress, and that’s exercise, and that is going to tire them out. Take into consideration all this that’s on their plate now. So yeah, it’s, um, it truly is my, um, my respect for them over, , the final 20—I’ve been within the enterprise over 25 years.
Don Saladino: I believe I took my first one-on-one about 20 years in the past. Um, it’s extraordinary what they must do in such little time.
Mike Matthews: And when it comes to what you see on the display, only for, for individuals who don’t know, what’s that distinction between, okay, you’re there in particular person whereas they’re taking pictures and never to remove from something that they’ve accomplished.
Mike Matthews: As you stated, they’ve labored laborious. They’ve gotten into nice form, however then you definately see the ultimate manufacturing on TV, and what, what’s that Delta, so to talk, when it comes to what you’re seeing, the place you’re like, dude, that man seems 15 [00:53:00] kilos larger than, what I imply?
Don Saladino: What number of occasions have we gotten in mirrors in a dressing room?
Don Saladino: And we’re like, Oh my God, I don’t appear like that. Proper? Like that is, that is it. Or it’s like, Oh my God, like that is the very best mirror or all of the sudden. You recognize, I’m like, Oh my God, I look horrible. Like there’s, there’s lighting. I can raise these shades up proper now and bleach these lights out. If I take my shirt off, I’m not going to look wherever as outlined.
Don Saladino: And if I drop the shades, dip the lighting, get some lighting coming in at a special angle, do a few pushups, get a pump. Like I’m going to look so much totally different. I’m going to, I can do a earlier than and after and trick everybody and say, that is 12 weeks later, they’re going to be like, what? Like, that is—so take into consideration what Hollywood can do.
Don Saladino: I can try this in a couple of minutes.
Mike Matthews: I, I did that after, so I—it simply jogs my memory the place I—I didn’t do a canopy. Uh, it was simply getting lean for some advertising and stuff, and, and so I, I used to be taking a nap outdoors. So it was within the solar, absolutely, , in order that’s simply daylight, bla, in Florida. Coming down on me, anyone took an image of me laying down, and so I’m [00:54:00] so I’m sleeping.
Mike Matthews: So no muscle stress, proper? After which only a few days later, it was the picture shoot, and I used to be in all probability round 6 or 7%. So fairly lean and I’ve, I’ve a little bit of measurement, proper? So fairly vascular or no matter. And folks had a tough time believing that these had been only a few days aside due to how shockingly totally different it seemed.
Don Saladino: God, you may manipulate a lot. I imply, it’s, it’s, it’s, it’s fascinating, nevertheless it’s nonetheless—I by no means needed to remove from the work that’s being put in. I imply, on the finish of the day, even after I go to, uh, I’ve been to in all probability 15 to twenty Mr. Olympia competitions. I wish to be very clear right here. Simply because somebody’s on a performance-enhancing substance doesn’t imply they’re going to appear like that, proper? Or it doesn’t imply they’re going to have the ability to carry out like somebody within the NFL. Like, it takes a particular athlete, a particular particular person to have the ability to create, develop the talent units that these individuals have developed, whether or not it’s standing on stage and posing or whether or not it’s, , being within the NFL, totally different talent units.
Don Saladino: However man, the quantity of labor, the quantity of effort, the self-discipline that, um, [00:55:00] I believe loads of these individuals must put in to get there, particularly with bodybuilders. I’m fascinated with, I’ll simply go, and also you’ll go to the Olympia, and also you’ll have a look at, , the traditional physique. Now, it’s in all probability one of many greatest classes.
Don Saladino: So that you’ll have a look at 100 guys within the again competing. You recognize, what are they taking? Prime 5? It’s like, Oh my God. And I can assure most individuals are going to have the ability to go have a look at the winner, Chris Bumstead this 12 months. So, , the man who completed twentieth or twenty fifth, and in the event that they have a look at him facet by facet they usually don’t know what they’re , they’re going to be like, Uh, uh, who received?
Don Saladino: Like, it’s, it’s, however the quantity, even when somebody finishes twentieth, it’s like the quantity of self-discipline, the quantity of effort, and the quantity of labor—for me, that’s what I respect essentially the most.
Mike Matthews: Completely. You talked about that with a few of these covers that you simply did not too long ago, you didn’t trouble slicing water, and I needed to come back again to that as a result of that is also simply the subject of look a sure manner is one thing that has simply come up through the years the place, so sometimes, the way in which I’ve acquired it’s individuals [00:56:00] asking about—normally it’s round some form of occasion, proper?So possibly it’s a marriage or it’s a man who needs to look notably good on the seaside for some cause or no matter. Uh, and, and that results in then, are there any methods except for, so there’s one faculty, which is simply, you simply received to get actually lean, neglect about the whole lot else, simply hold shedding fats.
Mike Matthews: And that’s one strategy. After which there’s one other strategy of getting lean plus different issues like slicing water, lowering carbs, or lowering then rising. What are your ideas on this stuff? And I’m positive you’ve accomplished loads of this stuff. So that you’re talking firsthand as effectively.
Don Saladino: Yeah, I believe it depends upon the place to begin, proper?
Don Saladino: I believe somebody like me, who’s going to stroll round actually lean all 12 months lengthy, and I by no means go in any huge bulking phases. I imply, I’m like 6 foot 1. I in all probability, in a 12 months, will weigh wherever between like 207 to as a lot as possibly 219. And that’s—I don’t even assume that’s a real 219 to 220. That’s in all probability after a nasty weekend, retaining some water.
Don Saladino: So I don’t assume so. That feels like that’s an enormous fluctuation, nevertheless it actually isn’t. I imply, [00:57:00] I can get up one morning and be 5 kilos lighter. It’s simply, , and that.
Mike Matthews: Yeah. Or, or heavier. You may simply eat a bunch of carbs and a bunch of salt and weigh 5 extra kilos.
Don Saladino: Nicely, 100%. So I, I believe after I manipulated for a few picture shoots years in the past, like 2013, 2014, and I did like water manipulation, carb manipulation, I simply bear in mind how shitty I felt these few occasions I did it. It was a real contest prep, and I made it by means of. I used to be disciplined, went to the shoot date, and felt like I seemed nice.
Don Saladino: That, compared to me doing what I confer with as extra of a more healthy lower—um, I didn’t get that a lot leaner. I used to be virtually like, I’ll present you photos and also you’re like, wow, that’s comparable. Like, that’s the one to chop water for, and that is the one that you simply didn’t. And I used to be like, yeah. I simply discovered as a result of all 12 months lengthy, I’m consuming like a better degree of energy and my macros, I’m by no means actually going low carb, I’m by no means going low [00:58:00] fats, however I’m consuming a high-quality weight loss plan that’s excessive fiber, nutrient-dense, .
Don Saladino: I’m turning round, getting, if I’m getting 500–600 grams of carbs in a day with 250 to 275 grams of protein, say 130 grams of fats, when my physique’s used to processing that and working by means of that, the second I’ve to organize for a canopy, if I drop that 500 to 300, hold the protein across the similar and drop the fat from, say, 130 to 90, that’s a large deficit, however my energy are nonetheless fairly excessive.
Don Saladino: So, what I discovered with my physique is that, , I’d lose 5, 6, 7 kilos in every week. After which after that, for the following 3, 4 weeks, I’d lose like a pound, a pound and a half. However day-after-day I’m waking up and I’m like, Oh my God, I’ve received a brand new vein coming down from my neck to my chest, and my arms are extra vascular. Then out of nowhere, like every week or two in, I’m beginning to see veins come by means of my abdominals.
Don Saladino: It’s simply from the truth that I believe I’m [00:59:00] used to processing a excessive quantity of energy. After which all of the sudden, after I go right into a deficit, that is like most individuals’s surpluses. So my metabolism’s used to being fairly environment friendly. So I believe that’s one thing that’s labored actually, very well for me.
Don Saladino: Additionally, one other factor—I don’t change coaching within the sense of why individuals get within the mindset like, oh, I received to sweat, I received to begin doing circuit work, or like. I’m like, no, no, by no means. I’m truly like, I take actually extra of a power-building strategy in most of my coaching. Like, I find it irresistible all year long.
Don Saladino: More often than not. And I’m not saying I don’t work on work capability or I don’t change coaching up. However more often than not, like, bench, squat, deadlift. Pull-off overhead urgent. These are lifts I wish to be sure that are fairly robust, after which the whole lot else I can get the unilateral work, et cetera. However these, these, , that large three—bench, squat, deadlift.
Don Saladino: Yeah, I’m focusing extra on energy and power there, and that is permitting me to remain considerably dense. After which I really feel like the whole lot else I’m going into is extra like [01:00:00] a hypertrophy strategy. So after I’m, , every week or two out from a canopy, I’m pulling 500 off the ground. Like, I’m squatting a heavy weight, like I’m hitting fives and threes, and I’m doing this stuff that I really feel like permit my muscle to remain laborious and dense. The place I’m somebody that the whole lot goes to excessive repetitions.
Don Saladino: Nicely, for every week or two, I’m going to really feel sore. I’m going to get some nasty pumps. I’m going to really feel nice. However then after that, I’m going to begin feeling like I’m getting slightly bit weaker and I’m truly going to really feel like my physique begins getting flat. In order that’s an strategy that, , I’ve taken for some time. Sustaining that muscle power and that density for me is one thing that I believe has allowed me to have fairly good physique composition all year long.
Don Saladino: So after I determine to begin prepping for one thing, or I get a name to prep for one thing, it’s not like, , Oh, aren’t you working round? And it’s like, all proper, effectively, yeah, like. By doing extra cardio. Positive. I’m doing extra steady-state cardio. Nicely, why aren’t you doing high-intensity coaching? Nicely, it’d be slightly too taxing for the quantity I’ve to coach to organize for this, proper?
Don Saladino: Regular-state cardio. The simple factor about it, as , is we might simply do loads of it. Proper. And, um, [01:01:00] precisely. However it’s like individuals wish to like type of shit on it a bunch and be like, effectively, , research present that top, excessive, excessive depth. Sure. There’s a spot for that. There’s a spot for this. So I simply assume individuals must be well-rounded.
Don Saladino: And I—once more, that teaching aspect of recognizing what the person wants, I believe, is what makes a superb coach a superb coach.
Mike Matthews: Oh, truly, can I, can I, can I ask—so that you talked about sauna and chilly plunge, are you able to discuss slightly bit about these issues and possibly another of those different interventions that—I imply, a few of them are, so crimson mild is type of fashionable proper now.
Mike Matthews: And I’m not saying it’s a nasty factor. I’m simply saying that.
Don Saladino: I really like crimson lights. I’ve a crimson mild mattress being delivered to me in like two or three weeks. Um, so yeah, I’ve received a revived crimson mild mattress coming to me. So I’m actually as a result of I’ve dedicated to a crimson mild masks, and I’ve a stand-up lamp downstairs.
Don Saladino: However, um, I simply wish to get slightly bit extra educated on it as a result of it’s slightly bit extra, uh, these bulbs are gonna be much more [01:02:00] stronger, and getting on a constant routine the place I’m truly laying down and my complete physique can get, uh, uncovered to crimson mild, back and front. Um, it’s fascinating. Plunging I take advantage of, I truly really feel nice from plunging.Don Saladino: I, I’ll use it both generally after I get up. Very first thing I’ll apply it to days off. Uh, I really feel nice doing it. I take advantage of, uh, it’s referred to as a Renew. Uh, it’s been my favourite plunge and I’ve, uh, I’ve, uh, an infrared sauna that I’ve outdoors after which I’ve one which’s inside.
Mike Matthews: And you favor the infrared over a conventional?
Don Saladino: I’ve at all times, I’ve at all times favored it. I don’t, I don’t like going into these actually scorching 180, 190 diploma saunas. The place you simply really feel such as you’re going to die. Like I like being within the sauna at 140, , wherever from 130 to 150 levels. I’ll do emails. I’ll be sitting there sweating like a pig, having a dialog with my coaching buddy.
Don Saladino: We’ll spend 20, half-hour there. We’ll bounce on the plunge on an off day for 3 [01:03:00] minutes and also you simply really feel nice. So I really feel like that’s enhanced my restoration a bit. I don’t assume that there’s any profit if it’s ever, as a result of now you’re listening to, effectively, it’s like, I’ve by no means, I’ve been, I’ve been chilly plunging for 25 years.
Don Saladino: I don’t know if I’ve ever, , I’ve chilly plunged after exercises. I’ve had a chilly on days off. I actually don’t chilly plunge after exercises. I could also be doing it on off days, however I’ve by no means had, I’ve by no means seen a draw back to it. So, um, after which on prime of that, what else do I take advantage of? I’ll use it. I actually like this new unit referred to as, uh, Firefly, which is these. I don’t wish to describe it as Normatecs, however they’re virtually like these little sticky bands.
Don Saladino: That offers you off impulses that assist scale back circulation all through the physique. So you would throw them in your knees, it’s received a plus-minus button. It’s received a 30-hour lifespan. They’re tremendous cheap. I’ll give them to Pete. Like my next-door neighbor’s received cerebral palsy. He’s in a [01:04:00] wheelchair.
Don Saladino: So we’ll get him a pair, proper? Um, a buddy of mine, who’s had some knee surgical procedures that, um, , he’s at all times in search of extra circulation. He’s sporting them. My uncle virtually had his leg amputated due to most cancers and one in all his legs isn’t working effectively anymore. We’ll throw that on him. And he’s already seen drastic enchancment in how his physique’s feeling and really bringing some motion again into his toes.
Don Saladino: So I believe there are some actually nice issues on the market. I simply, once more, it’s the, for somebody like my uncle or Christian, who’s my neighbor subsequent door, that’s fairly extreme, proper? Like these issues that we’re speaking about, the way it’s serving to them out, fairly extreme. Somebody like myself, I believe it’s like throwing a cherry on prime of the whipped cream, which is on the ice cream. Like that is,
Mike Matthews: It’s in all probability in the identical class of dietary supplements. Like they’re supplemental by definition.
Don Saladino: Thanks. Completely stated. That’s precisely what I simply stated. Individuals begin placing a lot worth into this stuff they usually’re like, do one thing laborious day-after-day. And I’m like, effectively, it’s not likely laborious.
Don Saladino: I used to be doing this stuff actually laborious. I believe doing what’s laborious, [01:05:00] I believe laborious is like waking up if you’re drained and persevering with to do your routine that you simply don’t wish to do.
Mike Matthews: It wasn’t, it wasn’t laborious when, when, uh, we had been 20. Sleep? What was sleep? It didn’t even matter, nevertheless it’s totally different now, not less than for me, like 5 hours does
Don Saladino: Not feeling the identical anymore.
Don Saladino: It doesn’t. However yeah, I believe if individuals wish to take note of doing the laborious issues, be constant along with your diet, get to mattress on time each night time, try to, , remove or restrict alcohol, get excessive protein. Like these, these should not attractive issues, however they’re undoubtedly going to pay the most important dividends.
Mike Matthews: Have you ever seemed into the beginner machine? N E U?
Don Saladino: Oh yeah. I’ve heard of this.
Mike Matthews: Um,
Don Saladino: I don’t
Mike Matthews: Describe it to me once more. I really feel like I’ve used it.
Mike Matthews: So it’s a DC, so it’s a direct present STEM. It’s fairly costly. I don’t know a lot about
Don Saladino: It. Oh, is it, it’s shockwave remedy?
Mike Matthews: Uh, that’s attainable that it may be used. Yeah, that is perhaps categorized that manner. Nevertheless, I do know, so I’ve been on it. I don’t have one. I’ve been on it earlier than. And so [01:06:00] it’s direct present STEM and it’s a high-end direct present STEM with rehab settings. After which additionally with, like, coaching hypertrophy settings the place you may, you may, uh, closely stimulate goal muscle teams, uh, and obtain most contraction.
Mike Matthews: It’s, it’s intense. And I’ve seen some bodybuilders now catching on to this. It appears fascinating. I haven’t, I haven’t messed round with it a lot as a result of I don’t have one. I simply had entry to 1 by means of anyone I do know.
Don Saladino: There’s a bodybuilder at, uh, Max Charles. That’s who it’s. Max Charles. Um, he’s a four-time Olympian.
Don Saladino: Um, he trains at Beth Francis Powerhouse Gymnasium. And this man for the final, no joke, it must be seven, eight years, has been strolling across the fitness center, pushing a cart with this machine. Actually, like he brings, he actually has a man he’s hooked as much as these, like, electrodes and he’s pushing in a machine. He’s received one other, [01:07:00] one other man following him, I believe, to love to help with him. And, uh, it’s, it’s fascinating.
Don Saladino: So sure, I, I’ve seen this, I simply,
Mike Matthews: All proper. Final query for beer wandering dietary supplements. Do you’re taking any dietary supplements?
Don Saladino: I do. Creatine monohydrate. I imply, I’ve been taking that for in all probability near 30 years now. Um, I take magnesium. I take that earlier than mattress. I take fish oils. Um, I additionally take vitamin D.
Don Saladino: Generally I’ll take amino acids if my protein is perhaps low that day or if I’m weight-reduction plan. I take an awesome sleep bundle proper now, um, from a brand new firm that’s about to launch referred to as Spoken. Um, they gave me entry to it. I find it irresistible as a result of it’s received magnesium, it’s received L-theanine, it’s received inositol, it’s received glycine, all the nice sleep, uh, sleep aids, um, L-glutamine, and , I’ll take a protein complement and I gotta take a protein powder.
Don Saladino: However it’s been a lot, it’s so humorous, all of the, all of the [01:08:00] literature proper now that persons are placing on the market like, is protein powder good at making you fats? And I’m identical to, Oh my God, is {that a}, I truly haven’t seen that.
Mike Matthews: That’s—yeah, truly Dr. Gabrielle Lyon simply needed to tackle it as a result of individuals had been like, protein, I heard protein powders make you fats.
Don Saladino: Proper. We stated that I don’t, did you hear that? Like, supposedly he’s like suing Grant Cardone. This simply popped up the opposite day. I used to be laughing.
Mike Matthews: I, I, I noticed that, uh, I don’t understand how I got here throughout her. Someone informed me, sure, I’ve heard that. I don’t know the main points. I assume he received kicked out after which they received mad at one another.
Mike Matthews: I don’t know. Really, I don’t know the main points. I’m no fan of Brekka although, he’s, he’s a quack to finish all quackery, so. Uh, my, my opinion, caveat, no matter.
Mike Matthews: No, no, no, it’s high-quality, I imply, he’s not, um. I’ve seen, I’ve simply seen him say a lot nonsense that what else am I alleged to, what else am I alleged to conclude?
Mike Matthews: If you wish to play physician, go change into a physician. So, I don’t know.
Don Saladino: I believe loads of these guys get a bit fluffy.
Mike Matthews: Nicely, it’s biohacking. That’s the [01:09:00] crimson flag. Anybody who calls themselves a biohacker, crimson flag.
Don Saladino: However who was it? Dave Asprey was speaking about, um, how, um, don’t eat, don’t eat oats. It, um, it, it’ll make you fats.
Don Saladino: Yeah. I, I, I scream ice cream is more healthy for you than oatmeal. And I’m like, that’s simply irresponsible. Like, how will you be that silly? And, um, the one man I received a kick out of not too long ago although, trigger I talked out of this occasion referred to as pneumonia at West Palm, that man, Brian Johnson, the one attempting to dwell to be like, no matter he’s like, what?
Mike Matthews: Type of seems so—he seems type of like a lizard already or one thing or possibly a vampire. He seems like a, like a, like a vampire.
Don Saladino: He seems flat out kooky. I completely get it, however he will get it too. And he’s like, pay attention, I’m a kook. You flat out stated it. And folks had been like, what I didn’t respect. Everybody lives the life that they wish to dwell, hopefully, proper?
Don Saladino: Like, you probably have the flexibility to dwell the way in which you wish to dwell, that’s, that to me is like true wealth. Yeah, and spend your cash. It’s your cash. Do no matter you [01:10:00] need. Precisely. However like, individuals had been coming at him, like, the ladies in The View had been like, have a life. I’m like, type of considering to myself, I felt dangerous for him.
Don Saladino: I’m like, that is the life he needs to dwell. That is what he’s doing. He appears actually pleased. And, uh, no matter. However he not less than took possession over the truth that what he does is a bit bizarre and unusual. And loads of medical doctors had been approaching. They’re like, this isn’t going to be so, um, backed proof and this isn’t science and this.
Don Saladino: He’s identical to, pay attention, I simply wish to see what I can do with the human physique. And for me, I’ve the cash, I’ve the sources. That is one thing that I get pleasure from doing and I’m going to benefit from it. When he type of put it that manner, I used to be like, how do you argue with that? Like…
Mike Matthews: Go away the man alone.
Don Saladino: Yeah.
Mike Matthews: I imply, from what I’ve seen from him, uh, it looks as if—I don’t pay an excessive amount of consideration, however from what I’ve seen—a good quantity of it’s primarily based on current literature after which a good quantity of it’s speculative, nevertheless it’s not absurd.
Mike Matthews: It’s primarily based on mechanics that may be defined that not less than align with how the human physique works. And sure, it’s speculative the place we don’t know if this actually does [01:11:00] one thing or not. And, uh, as long as such protocols are introduced that manner, I don’t assume there’s something mistaken with that per se. And even in the event you had been to say like, I truly don’t suggest that I’m doing it as a result of that is type of my factor.
Mike Matthews: I don’t suggest that everybody does it as a result of I don’t know, it could truly be dangerous for me. Some of these items we’ll see.
Don Saladino: Yeah, yeah, it’s a, it’s slightly, I imply, the entire trade has change into slightly a lot of the biohackers. Most of them to me ought to simply type of go away. And that sounds fairly horrible for me to say, however I don’t know.
Don Saladino: You’ve received actually clever medical doctors on the market. You’ve received people who find themselves like, , Dr. Gabrielle Lyon, uh, Dr. Dwayne Jackson, who’s type of extra of an unknown and he’s one in all Prescript’s medical doctors. And even like listening to Huberman the opposite day—I had dinner with him, like an excellent good man, working on the Chilly Spring Labs proper over right here.
Don Saladino: Like, individuals hate him as a result of he’s simply discovered a approach to change into actually profitable. And he’s within the media slightly bit. The man’s tremendous good. So it’s like, these are the individuals I’d somewhat take heed to. These individuals. Like, why am I, why am I going to go take heed to a biohacker who’s simply [01:12:00] type of, , strolling round with blue mild blockers all day?
Don Saladino: I simply, I believe—and the rationale why it sounds slightly abrasive, how I’m placing it, it’s simply, I believe they change into a bit irresponsible. Their conduct turns into irresponsible once they’re coming in with this one-size-fits-all strategy or once they’re turning round to individuals, somebody within the Midwest proper now who’s been consuming Egg McMuffins each morning.
Don Saladino: And all of the sudden they’re like, what? I received on the spot oats, Quaker on the spot oats, and it’s, um, it’s cinnamon taste and it’s received some fiber in it. And my physician’s telling me that is higher for me than the Egg McMuffin. What’s higher for you? Be trustworthy with what the fuck’s higher for you.
Don Saladino: However now you’re telling this one that’s attempting to make slightly little bit of an effort. You’re discouraging them by saying, effectively, you’re higher off consuming ice cream as a result of the oats are the worst factor so that you can eat. That’s irresponsible. Teaching is about discovering the extent an individual’s at. And what? Taking a minimalistic strategy generally to provide them slightly bit extra.
Don Saladino: You’re not at all times going to have the ability to flip round.
Mike Matthews: Simply that’s, that’s truly all that works with most individuals. You’ve got the exception, however with most individuals.
Don Saladino: Proper. Each every now and then, there’s this diamond within the tough. There’s this kind An individual the place you’re like, right here, see you in three months, they usually come again, they usually’re like, look, and also you’re like, holy shit.
Don Saladino: Like, it was that straightforward. It’s not the fact, however these persons are getting irresponsible of their conduct and the, and the data they’re giving. It’s actually messing individuals up, it’s actually complicated them, and it’s conserving them away from having the ability to take the appropriate steps. And, um, so, in order that’s, that’s my solely reservation with among the biohackers is once they.
Mike Matthews: It’s additionally unethical. A number of the claims which can be made are simply false. So we’re speaking about basically mendacity for a residing.
Don Saladino: It’s mendacity.
Mike Matthews: Right. Mendacity for a residing, like that’s principally what I do. I lie for a residing.
Don Saladino: Mainly, it’s simply turning round saying, I’m going to say this to, uh, as could possibly be, earn money. That’s it.
Mike Matthews: Yeah, earn money. Finally, it’s simply to earn money. Nicely, uh, we’ve gone on one other virtually 20 minutes now. So, uh, once more, I recognize the time. Why don’t we wrap up rapidly, with the place individuals can discover you, discover your work. If [01:14:00] there’s something particularly that you really want them to find out about.
Don Saladino: DonSaladino.com is my web site, type of spells the whole lot on the market. Uh, host packages, challenges, do consulting. I’ve received a brand new podcast launching with the Gaines household, Joanna and Chip Gaines from Magnolia this 12 months. I’m writing a ebook. I simply signed a cope with Countryman Press. So I’ve rolled that out. Ryan Reynolds is writing the foreword.
Don Saladino: Bought some nice initiatives this 12 months. I’m actually enthusiastic about it. If anybody has any questions, shoot me a DM. Mike, thanks for having me on. It was a pleasure. Hope to fulfill you in particular person.
Mike Matthews: Completely. Thanks.
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Mike Matthews: Nicely, I hope you favored this episode. I hope you discovered it useful. And in the event you did, subscribe to the present as a result of it makes positive that you simply don’t miss new episodes.
Mike Matthews: And it additionally helps me as a result of it will increase the rankings of the present slightly bit, which in fact then makes it slightly bit extra simply discovered by different individuals who might prefer it simply as a lot as you.
Mike Matthews: And in the event you didn’t like one thing about this episode or in regards to the present usually, or you probably have concepts or ideas, or simply suggestions to share, shoot me an electronic mail at [email protected] and let me know what I can do higher or simply what your ideas are about possibly what you’d wish to see me do sooner or later.
Mike Matthews: I learn the whole lot myself. I’m at all times in search of new concepts and constructive suggestions. So thanks once more for listening to this episode, and I hope to listen to from you quickly.
