Don Saladino: [00:00:00] It’s simply fascinating to me now. Everybody’s bought this intelligent manner of twisting issues and justifying it. Do I feel it’s in Hollywood lots? Sure. Do I feel you’re going to see it in Hollywood extra now? Sure. As a result of a whole lot of these hormones are going to grow to be so simply accessible to a whole lot of these actors. And I feel it actually comes all the way down to, you recognize, who’s prepared to take that dive or not.
Don Saladino: And I’m actually not working with folks one-on-one anymore, but when I used to be, I suppose 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 preserve it from me. And, you recognize, pay attention, I don’t suppose anybody in Hollywood—that is going to be sort of a kick to a whole lot of them—however I don’t suppose anybody in Hollywood seems so wonderful that I’d say a human being can’t try this.
Mike Matthews: Hi there, and welcome to a brand new episode of Muscle for Life. I’m your host, Mike Matthews. Thanks for becoming a member of me right this moment to listen to from Don Saladino on [00:01:00] the way to 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, folks 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 classes beneath 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 folks. He’s additionally going to speak about [00:02:00] superstar transformations and the way what you see on the display screen isn’t at all times actuality. He discusses the function of lighting, and sure, he additionally talks about steroids. He shares his opinion on the function that steroids play in a minimum of among the extra spectacular superstar 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 right this moment’s episode shortly, however first, I must let you know concerning the fish oil complement that I take each 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 each day? Properly, 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 important for decreasing the chance of assorted forms 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 doable to get sufficient omega-3 fatty acids out of your eating regimen alone, it may be troublesome to do in the event you don’t usually eat sufficient of sure meals like olive oil, avocado, nuts, and fatty fish. Because of this analysis exhibits that the common individual’s eating regimen gives simply one-tenth of the quantity of omega-3s wanted to protect well being and stop illness.
Mike Matthews: Now, even in the event you do eat sufficient of the correct meals to get sufficient omega-3s in your eating regimen to keep up your well being, it’s nearly inconceivable to eat sufficient to take pleasure in among the advantages that require a few grams per day—like decreasing irritation ranges and muscle soreness after train. And people two causes are why I feel fish oil is without doubt one of the few dietary supplements that principally everybody ought to contemplate [00:04:00] taking, no matter their circumstances or targets.
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 100% re-esterified triglyceride fish oil created from deep-water Peruvian anchovies and sardines caught by fisheries accredited by Pals of the Sea.
Mike Matthews: Now, that’s a mouthful, and it appears like a whole lot of advertising puffery, however it’s not. First, re-esterified triglyceride fish oil is the gold customary of the totally different types in the marketplace 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, accommodates 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, concerning the fish that the oil comes from: small, cold-water, non-predatory fish like anchovies and sardines are excellent as a result of they are often harvested ethically and sustainably, and so they comprise the bottom quantities of environmental toxins.
Mike Matthews: Third, Pal of the Sea is a corporation that audits fisheries yearly to make sure they meet the best requirements of moral, environmental, and sustainable aquaculture.
Mike Matthews: And that’s not all that makes Triton particular. It additionally accommodates 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 components in NSF-certified and FDA-inspected services that adhere to present good manufacturing apply requirements. And all of [00:06:00] that’s the reason Legion has bought over 150,000 bottles of Triton to over 50,000 prospects, who’ve left over 1,000 five-star evaluations on Legion’s web site and Amazon.
Mike Matthews: And also you’ve performed a whole lot of that all through your profession. You’ve labored with a whole lot of celebrities who should stay that manner. You’ve additionally labored with many busy businesspeople and others. These folks 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 will simply sit within the health club for 4 hours a day. These are two very totally different folks. And you may say, nicely, yeah, I imply, the elemental rules apply the identical. However the way you truly apply them efficiently modifications, proper?
Don Saladino: Yeah, 100%. And also you introduced up the superstar angle.
Don Saladino: I feel what most individuals don’t perceive is that they assume most of those Hollywood folks have non-public cooks and trainers with them on a regular basis, and that every part is simply straightforward. I’ve truly labored—I’ve educated over 40,000 one-hour classes in my life. That’s how a lot teaching I’ve performed since 1999.
Don Saladino: I used to be coaching just about 40 to 60 one-hour classes per week. I’m identified for it. I’m often known as the man who was getting up at 3 a.m. to open my membership at 3:45. I’ve performed extra teaching than—there are only a few individuals who’ve performed 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 feel what’s fascinating about celebrities is that their lives are at all times fully altering. For instance, the Wall Avenue individual wakes up each morning and they’re the identical individual. I get up each morning as Don Saladino. I’m in my house in Lengthy Island. I’ve my two youngsters, my three canine, 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 a whole lot of these celebrities, they should grow to be totally different characters. They should grow to be totally different folks for intervals of time.
Don Saladino: A few of them can’t at all times soar out and in of character. Some are extra what they name technique actors, the place they keep within the function for a few months or no matter it’s. They’re continuously attempting to include an accent, or they’re doing this in a distinct time zone.
Don Saladino: They should study new abilities for the function. You understand, I don’t find out about you, however I didn’t develop up sword combating. Plenty of my actors who’re within the Marvel films out of the blue should 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 continually altering will be powerful. One evening, they could be 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. Certain, I modify time zones. Sure, I’ll be [00:11:00] in 4 or 5 totally different nations within the subsequent few months. No drawback. That’s straightforward for me. However whenever you take somebody away from their household and put them in an unfamiliar atmosphere with a brand new crowd of individuals—
Don Saladino: Underneath the stress of understanding that in the event that they get sick, they will’t take a time without work—it’s a totally totally different degree. I used to be pondering the opposite day about after I was with Ryan Reynolds on Deadpool. He bought 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 do business from home right this 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: Certain, 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 combat scenes, doing issues most people doesn’t see. And so they’re not educated for this, proper?
Don Saladino: Tom Brady was educated to be a quarterback.
Mike Matthews: There’s additionally an [00:12:00] incentive for the proprietor of Tom Brady’s staff to maintain him within the sport for as a few years as doable.
Don Saladino: Yeah, I imply, actors come and go, too. So there’s at all times that strain. Immediately, 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 nicely. They make the playoffs, or they make the World Collection. There’s the proof.
Don Saladino: However with a Hollywood actor, you’ll be able to have somebody with an excellent popularity who goes in and delivers an outstanding efficiency, however there could be a nasty director.
Don Saladino: Or there could be dangerous enhancing. Immediately, a film that was imagined to be severe 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 out of the blue you’re a horrible [00:13:00] individual.
Don Saladino: There’s this strain in Hollywood that I’ve seen. And pay attention, I’ve no cause to be saying this—I’m utterly impartial as a result of I work with everybody, or I’ve labored with everybody. So I feel there’s a respect I’ve for lots of those actors and what they should do.
Don Saladino: And, pay attention, a whole lot of them don’t train. Once they should prepare for a film, they’ll come to me and say, “Properly, they’re telling me I’ve to get stronger and construct muscle.” I’ll ask, “What does that actually seem like? What do you imply?”
Don Saladino: They’ll say, “Properly, they mentioned I’ve to placed on 10 kilos.” I’ll reply, “Do it’s important to truly placed on 10 kilos, or do you simply should get stronger and seem to have placed on 10 kilos?”
Don Saladino: As a result of these are very various things in my guide. Or they will look very totally different in my guide. 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 folks, it’s been fascinating what number of totally different tasks I’ve needed to analyze. Typically, it’s so simple as saying, “Nope. You’re high quality, you’ve bought two months.” [00:14:00] You’re precisely the place they need you to be. Let’s simply keep wholesome, keep resilient, and preserve your power excessive. Let’s not push you to the purpose the place you go into taking pictures this function feeling like rubbish or utterly exhausted.
Don Saladino: Let’s be sure you keep excessive power ranges. We don’t should overdo it, proper? It’s at all times a novel puzzle relying on what you’re serving to to create.
Mike Matthews: Whenever 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 easy accessibility to good diet. Virtually talking, in the event you get all the way down to the tactical degree, how do you make that work for these folks? Whenever 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 sort of life?
Don Saladino: Yeah, I imply, you’re speaking about creating, proper? You’ve bought 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 each day is simply the approach to life I stay three hundred and sixty five days a 12 months.
Don Saladino: A lot of the actors or folks I’ve labored with don’t method it the way in which I do. So, I feel it’s about assembly them the place they’re—understanding their general well being, power ranges, and staple items like sleep high quality, digestion, and stress.
Don Saladino: As a coach, you’re sort of like a chef. When a chef is getting ready a dish, they’ll strive various things, style as they go, and alter to make it work. Teaching is analogous. In case you’re a very good coach, you take a look at the person, their life-style, coaching historical past, and the time they’ve accessible.
Don Saladino: Then you definitely contemplate their character. 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 method for that individual.
Don Saladino: If I took my private plan and handed it to each one who needed to get ripped or in form, I don’t suppose I’d be very profitable. Most individuals would take a look at it and say, “Yeah, no.”
Mike Matthews: They don’t want a coach for that—they might simply purchase a PDF on-line.
Don Saladino: Precisely. And who is aware of if that even works? The true magic comes from understanding the individual and tailoring the method to their wants.
Don Saladino: Yeah. And who is aware of if that even works? I feel 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 thrice since 2018—I don’t get a whole lot of time to organize. 4, perhaps 5 weeks tops.
Don Saladino: Throughout these 4 to 5 weeks, there’s no variability. Actually, there are not any cheat meals, not a sip of alcohol—not that I actually drink anyway. But it surely’s strict macros, coaching, and focus.
Don Saladino: Typically, after I work with folks, relying on their character, I’ll say, “Alright, we’re not far off. Preserve that cheat meal you want each Saturday evening.” They’ll reply, “However, however, however…” And I’ll say, “No, severely. We’ll take a look at you about 4 to 6 weeks out, and if we have to tighten issues up, we’ll. Proper now, the manufacturing firm says you’re proper the place you should be. Let’s give attention to preserving your sanity.”
Don Saladino: Except you’re getting ready for one thing excessive—like {a magazine} cowl—you don’t must go all-in on a regular basis. Let’s assist you to achieve success. It’s like these New 12 months’s resolutions everyone seems to be diving into proper now.
Don Saladino: They need to go all in with out giving themselves any reduction. And, statistically, in just a few weeks, a whole lot of them gained’t be capable to sustain. So, yeah, this course of is so individualized. It’s so private.
Don Saladino: I promote applications 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, speak to them, and say, “We have to alter 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 should be celebrities, however perhaps only a few totally different examples of approaches you are taking with folks—on each the coaching and diet sides. Like, “Right here’s a kind of individual I work with, and right here’s how we are likely to method their plan,” versus one other kind of individual.
Don Saladino: Proper. I’ll have to make use of names as a result of most individuals gained’t know Joe Schmo from down on Bowery, proper? So, Ryan Reynolds is a superb instance.
Don Saladino: He’s sort of a robotic. We’ve been coaching collectively for 16 years. When it’s time for him to get in form, we assess him, take a look at how his physique is feeling, and work out what we are able to assign to him that may assist him achieve success.
Don Saladino: The purpose is for him to take pleasure in 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 greater, 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 folks the place the problem is the alternative. Typically, 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 function 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 Nineteen Twenties.” And I’ll agree, “Precisely. This doesn’t make sense.”
Don Saladino: So, the query turns into, how can we do that whereas preserving 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 preserve coaching, however how can we make changes so we’re not simply consuming McDonald’s each 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, you recognize what? Certain, you need a bit of ice cream each evening? I’ve bought no drawback with that. Go to an natural ice cream retailer to keep away from the chemical substances. The extra fats and pure sugar can assist you get a bit of softer and retain extra water.
Don Saladino: However meals high quality is at all times my precedence. I prefer to preserve it as excessive as doable.
Mike Matthews: Sorry to interject, however this can be a query I’ve gotten lots through the years, often from guys however typically from girls as nicely. They battle to realize weight whereas consuming largely nutritious meals. They don’t need 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 folks are likely to overcomplicate it. When somebody enters a bulking section, they usually suppose it’s a free go to eat no matter they need.
Don Saladino: Now, monitoring diet is usually a large assist, however it’s not for everybody. Monitoring removes the guesswork. In case you’re logging your meals and I see that you simply’ve eaten 3,200 energy right this 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 totally totally different story.
Don Saladino: For me, it’s simply math. Let’s say somebody’s purpose 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 and so they eat 1,000 energy of their first meal, they may 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 purpose.
Don Saladino: Now, 2,500 energy is manageable in my guide. But when somebody involves me needing 4,000 energy, that will get lots 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 group who began with me consuming 1,400 energy a day. Over a few 12 months, perhaps 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 power ranges, bought her shifting extra, elevated her protein consumption, and sure 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 power ranges, bought her shifting extra, saved 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 need to eat? In case you’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 just a few grams, do I care? No.
Don Saladino: Now, if somebody desires to eat 4 occasions a day, the mathematics modifications. 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 folks make when attempting to realize or drop some weight is approaching it like, “Oh, I’m gaining weight, so I’ll simply eat lots.” 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 you recognize, they’ve consumed so many energy in a single meal that they’re full for the following 5 – 6 hours and may’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 concerning 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 embody different carb sources all through the day, like candy potatoes, berries, oats, and extra. I must preserve my carbs excessive, and I make sure that they arrive from quite a lot of sources.
Don Saladino: For anybody listening who’s attempting to realize or drop some weight, monitoring will be very useful. It’s not obligatory for everybody, however 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. You have to be nearer to 25 grams.” Over just a few weeks, they’ll say, “Oh my God, I really feel fuller, I’m not craving junk at evening, and I’m beginning to drop some weight.”
Don Saladino: Humorous how that works, proper? Whenever you enhance your diet, good issues occur.
Mike Matthews: And so far as particular person meals, are there sure ones you prefer to a minimum of check out with purchasers?
Mike Matthews: And that might apply to reducing weight or gaining weight. For instance, when reducing weight, the extra nutritious, fiber-containing meals you’ll be able to eat, the higher—they preserve you full. A tip I bought from Menno Henselmans that I’ve handed alongside is about zucchini soup.
Mike Matthews: He talked about in an interview that zucchini soup will be very filling. You possibly can eat a whole lot of it, and for some cause, zucchini particularly appears to work nicely 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 title, 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 high of every part you’re placing in your physique. Zucchini is nice; it’s sort of a “free” meals—you’ll be able to eat a whole lot 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. Certain, it’d style nice, however it’s important 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 embody extra calorie-dense choices. For instance, a fibrous sprouted bagel will be nice for pumping up carbs. Brown rice is a bit more durable to eat in giant portions, however white rice is far simpler to eat whenever you want extra carbohydrates.
Don Saladino: Candy potatoes, for instance, aren’t very calorie-dense. Eight ounces of candy potato would possibly provide you with round 50 grams of carbs. Evaluate that to an identical quantity of white rice, and also you’re getting considerably extra carbohydrates.
Don Saladino: For bulking, I even have just a few secret weapons. Dates, as an illustration, are wonderful—excessive in fiber and pure sugar. 5 dates provide you with round 100 grams of carbohydrates, and so they’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 these kinds of 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 often be round 207. That’s not an enormous distinction, however by tightening up the forms 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 total 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 folks have been even discussing it.
Don Saladino: After I began coaching, was I studying lots? Not likely, however sort of. Because the years went on and this grew to become extra of an accepted apply, and other people began understanding what optimization was, that’s when folks started exploring the probabilities.
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 extremely good place—which I credit score to the final 30 years of the way in which I stay—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: Certain, may I get greater? May I get stronger? In all probability. However I don’t know the long-term ramifications of taking these issues. I don’t know the way it could have an effect on my ageing course of or how my physique would possibly reply sooner or later.
Don Saladino: Possibly for some folks, we’re seeing advantages. Take a look at Stallone—he’s nearly 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 assets.
Don Saladino: I’ll have gone a bit of off-topic there, however the level is, there’s lots to consider.
Don Saladino: I want extra folks took possession of this. In case you’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 feel that’s a very good factor. It must be disclosed. In case you’ve taken one thing, simply admit it.
Don Saladino: That honesty and openness are vital, particularly for the youthful youngsters who’re watching.
Mike Matthews: And don’t name it TRT if it’s a steroid dose. In case you’re working your testosterone at 5,000 ng/dL, let’s be sincere—that’s not TRT.
Don Saladino: Precisely. My testosterone has improved considerably over the past three years. My complete 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: Folks simply don’t know what they’re speaking about. They ask, “How’d you try this?” Properly, I finished commuting three hours a day into the town. I finished waking up at 3 a.m. and began waking up at 5:50 a.m.
Don Saladino: You suppose which may have one thing to do with it? It’s not simply concerning the chilly plunges or the sauna. Certain, I do these issues, however take into consideration what I simply mentioned—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 suppose that further 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: Whenever you remove all of that stress, your high quality of life improves, and also you simply grow to be happier. It’s a distinct section of my life, and yeah, issues are going to enhance. They don’t at all times should worsen as you age. However I do suppose there must be much more schooling on the market in terms of these things.
Mike Matthews: We’ll get again to right this moment’s episode shortly, however first, I need to let you know about my bestselling health guide for males who need to acquire 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: You don’t must sweat buckets, push to the purpose of soreness, or prepare till you’re bone-tired. All of that’s overrated for gaining muscle and power. And also you don’t even must slog away on the treadmill to lose stomach fats or get six-pack abs.
Mike Matthews: Certain, there are good causes to do cardio, however it’s not a should for fats loss.
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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 accountable steroids every time 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, perhaps. What are your ideas? Not asking you to call anybody, in fact, however you’ve seen a whole lot 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 folks in Hollywood than I’ve, and that’s Gunner Peterson. Gunner’s a very good pal 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: Pay attention, I don’t suppose anybody in Hollywood seems so wonderful that I’d say a human being can’t obtain that naturally.
Mike Matthews: Some would argue it’s concerning the time. They’d say, “Alright, however they solely have two months to realize all that muscle.”
Don Saladino: Honest level, completely honest. However let me provide you with 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 excellent coach in Texas—however again then, I knew precisely what he was consuming, the dietary supplements he was taking, and the way we have been coaching.
Don Saladino: He was an intense man, however let’s be sincere—he’s an actor. You convey him right into a hardcore health club like Bev Francis’s Powerhouse Gymnasium, and I may present you 200 guys twice as massive and twice as sturdy as he was. However as a result of it’s Hollywood, with the lights, the cameras, and the large display screen, folks suppose it’s unattainable.
Don Saladino: Just lately, there was this man—Alan Ritchson, I feel, the man from Jack Reacher. He was doing an interview and mentioned one thing like, “I educated so exhausting, 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 sincere—say you needed to be huge, so that you took it. Certainly one of my closest pals, a big-time powerlifter, had youngsters come as much as him and ask, “How’d you get so massive?” He straight-up instructed them, “Medication.”
Don Saladino: I misplaced it—it was so humorous. However then we instructed the youngsters, “Don’t do medicine. It’s not wholesome.” And my pal 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 whenever you take 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 folks 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 seem like that in your function. Bear in mind, there’s a value 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 medicine, 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, “In case you’re contemplating it, go converse to a certified doctor, not a coach, irrespective of how good they suppose 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 feel I’m higher than anybody, however as a result of I needed to give attention to one thing else. I put my power into understanding the way to manipulate physique composition, enhance efficiency, and improve aesthetics. That’s what I’m obsessed with, and I feel that’s why I’ve constructed the popularity I’ve in Hollywood.
Mike Matthews: Do you suppose 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 based mostly in your expertise?
Don Saladino: I feel it’s on the market lots. I feel it’s, I feel 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, nicely, your testosterone’s at 300. It’s a bit of low. I buried my finest pal 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 Area 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 performed as a result of I needed to know—he’s 43. Proper. So 2000, you recognize, 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, you recognize, his T ranges have been north of 3000. And I simply noticed… I simply noticed this horrible, you recognize, downward spiral he went on, and this can piss lots of people off as a result of the folks taking it don’t suppose they’re all, nicely, you didn’t have [00:46:00] anybody monitoring it. Bullshit. He did have folks monitoring it.
Don Saladino: He knew what he was doing. He simply, it bought to a degree the place he grew to become hooked on this sense that he simply saved taking increasingly and extra and he couldn’t get off of it. Then when he bought 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, nicely, 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 nicely. Like, uh, in accordance with the dictionary, I imply, I don’t know.
Don Saladino: In accordance with the dictionary. Sure. However like, I imply, lots of people will begin categorizing issues now otherwise.
Don Saladino: Like, nicely, 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 sort of side-eye look there as a result of, um, typically 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, nicely, is it, is it creatine a managed substance now?
Don Saladino: Isn’t that such as you suppose they have 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 need to eat like 4 steaks a day. So I take a gram of creatine monohydrate or take a, I take a bit of scooper of creatine monohydrate.
Don Saladino: Yeah. So it’s simply, it’s fascinating to me now. Everybody’s bought this intelligent manner of twisting issues and, and justifying it. Do I feel it’s in Hollywood lots? Sure. Do I feel you’re going to see it in Hollywood extra now? Sure, as a result of a whole lot of these hormones are going to grow to be so simply accessible. To a whole lot of these actors, and I feel it actually comes all the way down to, you recognize, who’s prepared to take that dive or not.
Don Saladino: And, uh, it’s going—I imply, I’m actually not working with folks one-on-one anymore, but when I used to be, I suppose it could get to a degree the place I’d be coaching folks, in all probability wouldn’t even find out about it as a result of they might in all probability simply preserve it from me. And, you recognize, they might have another man for that and, you recognize, that’s it. [00:48:00]
Don Saladino: Yeah, it’s, it’s, it’s—that’s this. These are the issues which are taking place now, however to reply your query, I feel it’s seen much more than we expect.
Mike Matthews: Fascinating. And for folks listening, uh, questioning why that’s, it’s just because these medicine work actually, rather well. So it’s been proven in analysis, for instance, that, uh, merely taking steroids—I’m pondering of 1 examine particularly—can produce extra.
Mike Matthews: And this was simply testosterone. And it wasn’t essentially a—it was tremendous physiological, however it wasn’t essentially the large bodybuilder dose. So simply taking testosterone can produce extra muscle development in an untrained particular person, uh, over the course of, I need to say the examine was 10 to 12 weeks, than coaching and consuming nicely.
Mike Matthews: So simply take into consideration that.
Don Saladino: Yeah. Okay. In order that, which may assist that, which may assist a whole lot 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 performed every part 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 feel somebody requested me this just lately, such as you’re 80. And, you recognize, out of the blue issues have advanced a lot. I imply, that’s 32, 33 years from now, proper? It’s, you recognize, 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 now we have 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, you recognize, 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 may completely make a very good argument that as a person dwelling with clinically low testosterone is unhealthy. And so in the event you’ve performed every part you’ll be able to to convey that up naturally, and that’s it—it’s simply—
Mike Matthews: You understand, your physique is outdated and worn out, and it’s [00:50:00] dwelling like that or exogenous. You in all probability may make only a easy web advantages argument for the exogenous.
Don Saladino: Completely, completely, completely, um, 100%. 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 via his face. Arm was blown off, reattached, and it bought to the purpose the place he lastly bought on one thing, and he bought throughout an unimaginable hurdle, and he’s dwelling an unimaginable life. His physique composition is in a very good place. His power degree is excessive, and he’s completely happy. 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 folks I’ve labored with which are 872 kilos. I’ve had a man who began with me right here—a pal—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 type of, um, you recognize, a type of peptides.
Don Saladino: Yeah, a type of GLP-1s. So, um, you recognize, I feel, once more, it’s to every his personal. I feel sure persons are actually nervous concerning the long-term results, however like I mentioned, [00:51:00] God, 30 years from now, we’re going to know lots.
Mike Matthews: Completely. You talked about earlier—coming again to Hollywood—I don’t need to belabor it, however it’s simply one thing you talked about that I made a psychological word to return again to. It’s how massive of a distinction lighting and digicam could make.
Mike Matthews: And I feel the explanation I need to convey it up is only for folks listening, to ensure that in the event that they’re going to check themselves to issues, they a minimum of perceive what they’re seeing and what they’re evaluating themselves to.
Don Saladino: It’s unbelievable what they will do with lighting and digicam angles.
Don Saladino: And, oh my God, it’s unimaginable. And it’s not to remove the form that a whole lot of these actors should get into—they work exhausting—and so they, um, and once more, keep in mind, this isn’t their craft. This isn’t like, they’re not a bodybuilder, you recognize, they’re not an expert athlete that’s been doing this most of their life.
Don Saladino: And they also know a whole lot of occasions they arrive in right here, they should study these abilities, you recognize, to have the ability to get this kind of form, proper? You [00:52:00] flip to Sebastian Stan, and he’s bought to resistance prepare for Avengers, and so they’re like, “However no, Seb, you’ve bought to do three hours of sword combat coaching a day.”And he’s like, what, like, what are you speaking about? These are issues folks 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, you recognize, the final 20—I’ve been within the enterprise over 25 years.
Don Saladino: I feel I took my first one-on-one about 20 years in the past. Um, it’s extraordinary what they should do in such little time.
Mike Matthews: And when it comes to what you see on the display screen, only for, for individuals who don’t know, what’s that distinction between, okay, you’re there in individual whereas they’re taking pictures and never to remove from something that they’ve performed.
Mike Matthews: As you mentioned, they’ve labored exhausting. They’ve gotten into nice form, however you then 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 greater than, you recognize 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 seem like that. Proper? Like that is, that is it. Or it’s like, Oh my God, like that is the very best mirror or out of the blue. You understand, 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 anyplace as outlined.
Don Saladino: And if I drop the shades, dip the lighting, get some lighting coming in at a distinct angle, do a few pushups, get a pump. Like I’m going to look lots 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 when, 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 exterior. So it was within the solar, totally, you recognize, in order that’s simply daylight, bla, in Florida. Coming down on me, any individual 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 photograph 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 other people had a tough time believing that these have been only a few days aside due to how shockingly totally different it seemed.
Don Saladino: God, you’ll be able to manipulate a lot. I imply, it’s, it’s, it’s, it’s fascinating, however 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 need to be very clear right here. Simply because somebody’s on a performance-enhancing substance doesn’t imply they’re going to seem 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 ability units that these folks have developed, whether or not it’s standing on stage and posing or whether or not it’s, you recognize, being within the NFL, totally different ability units.
Don Saladino: However man, the quantity of labor, the quantity of effort, the self-discipline that, um, [00:55:00] I feel a whole lot of these folks should 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 take a look at, you recognize, the basic physique. Now, it’s in all probability one of many largest classes.
Don Saladino: So that you’ll take a look at 100 guys within the again competing. You understand, what are they taking? High 5? It’s like, Oh my God. And I can assure most individuals are going to have the ability to go take a look at the winner, Chris Bumstead this 12 months. So, you recognize, the man who completed twentieth or twenty fifth, and in the event that they take a look at him facet by facet and so they don’t know what they’re , they’re going to be like, Uh, uh, who gained?
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 just lately, you didn’t hassle chopping water, and I needed to return again to that as a result of that is also simply the subject of the way to look a sure manner is one thing that has simply come up through the years the place, so usually, the way in which I’ve obtained it’s folks [00:56:00] asking about—often it’s round some type of occasion, proper?So perhaps it’s a marriage or it’s a man who desires to look significantly 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 college, which is simply, you simply bought to get actually lean, overlook about every part else, simply preserve shedding fats.
Mike Matthews: And that’s one method. After which there’s one other method of getting lean plus different issues like chopping water, decreasing carbs, or decreasing then growing. What are your ideas on these items? And I’m positive you’ve performed a whole lot of these items. So that you’re talking firsthand as nicely.
Don Saladino: Yeah, I feel it relies on the start line, proper?
Don Saladino: I feel 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 anyplace between like 207 to as a lot as perhaps 219. And that’s—I don’t even suppose 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 suppose so. That appears like that’s an enormous fluctuation, however it actually isn’t. I imply, [00:57:00] I can get up one morning and be 5 kilos lighter. It’s simply, you recognize, and you recognize that.
Mike Matthews: Yeah. Or, or heavier. You possibly can simply eat a bunch of carbs and a bunch of salt and weigh 5 extra kilos.
Don Saladino: Properly, 100%. So I, I feel after I manipulated for a few photograph shoots years in the past, like 2013, 2014, and I did like water manipulation, carb manipulation, I simply keep in mind how shitty I felt these few occasions I did it. It was a real contest prep, and I made it via. 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 check with as extra of a more healthy reduce—um, I didn’t get that a lot leaner. I used to be nearly 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 the next 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 eating regimen that’s excessive fiber, nutrient-dense, you recognize.
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 via that, the second I’ve to organize for a canopy, if I drop that 500 to 300, preserve the protein across the similar and drop the fat from, say, 130 to 90, that’s an enormous deficit, however my energy are nonetheless fairly excessive.
Don Saladino: So, what I discovered with my physique is that, you recognize, I’d lose 5, 6, 7 kilos in per week. After which after that, for the following 3, 4 weeks, I’d lose like a pound, a pound and a half. However each day I’m waking up and I’m like, Oh my God, I’ve bought a brand new vein coming down from my neck to my chest, and my arms are extra vascular. Then out of nowhere, like per week or two in, I’m beginning to see veins come via my abdominals.
Don Saladino: It’s simply from the truth that I feel I’m [00:59:00] used to processing a excessive quantity of energy. After which out of the blue, 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 feel that’s one thing that’s labored actually, rather well for me.
Don Saladino: Additionally, one other factor—I don’t change coaching within the sense of why folks get within the mindset like, oh, I bought to sweat, I bought to begin doing circuit work, or like. I’m like, no, no, under no circumstances. I’m truly like, I take actually extra of a power-building method in most of my coaching. Like, I like it 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 need to ensure that are fairly sturdy, after which every part else I can get the unilateral work, et cetera. However these, these, you recognize, that massive 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 every part else I’m going into is extra like [01:00:00] a hypertrophy method. So after I’m, you recognize, per 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 these items that I really feel like enable my muscle to remain exhausting and dense. The place I’m somebody that every part goes to excessive repetitions.
Don Saladino: Properly, for per 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 a bit of bit weaker and I’m truly going to really feel like my physique begins getting flat. In order that’s an method that, you recognize, I’ve taken for some time. Sustaining that muscle power and that density for me is one thing that I feel 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, you recognize, Oh, aren’t you working round? And it’s like, all proper, nicely, yeah, like. By doing extra cardio. Certain. I’m doing extra steady-state cardio. Properly, why aren’t you doing high-intensity coaching? Properly, it’d be a bit of 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 you recognize, is we may simply do a whole lot of it. Proper. And, um, [01:01:00] precisely. But it surely’s like folks need to like sort of shit on it a bunch and be like, nicely, you recognize, research present that prime, excessive, excessive depth. Sure. There’s a spot for that. There’s a spot for this. So I simply suppose folks must be well-rounded.
Don Saladino: And I—once more, that teaching aspect of recognizing what the person wants, I feel, is what makes a very good coach a very good 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 speak a bit of bit about these issues and perhaps some other of those different interventions that—I imply, a few of them are, so pink gentle is sort of stylish proper now.
Mike Matthews: And I’m not saying it’s a nasty factor. I’m simply saying that.
Don Saladino: I like pink lights. I’ve a pink gentle mattress being delivered to me in like two or three weeks. Um, so yeah, I’ve bought a revived pink gentle mattress coming to me. So I’m actually as a result of I’ve dedicated to a pink gentle masks, and I’ve a stand-up lamp downstairs.
Don Saladino: However, um, I simply need to get a bit of bit extra educated on it as a result of it’s a bit of 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 pink gentle, 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 typically 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 exterior after which I’ve one which’s inside.
Mike Matthews: And you like the infrared over a standard?
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 sizzling 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, you recognize, anyplace 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 soar 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 suppose that there’s any profit if it’s ever, as a result of now you’re listening to, nicely, 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, you recognize, 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 high 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 need to describe it as Normatecs, however they’re nearly like these little sticky bands.
Don Saladino: That provides you off impulses that assist scale back circulation all through the physique. So you may throw them in your knees, it’s bought a plus-minus button. It’s bought a 30-hour lifespan. They’re tremendous cheap. I’ll give them to Pete. Like my next-door neighbor’s bought 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, you recognize, he’s at all times searching for extra circulation. He’s sporting them. My uncle nearly had his leg amputated due to most cancers and one in all his legs isn’t working nicely anymore. We’ll throw that on him. And he’s already seen drastic enchancment in how his physique’s feeling and truly bringing some motion again into his toes.
Don Saladino: So I feel 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 feel it’s like throwing a cherry on high 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 mentioned. That’s precisely what I simply mentioned. Folks begin placing a lot worth into these items and so they’re like, do one thing exhausting each day. And I’m like, nicely, it’s probably not exhausting.
Don Saladino: I used to be doing these items actually exhausting. I feel doing what’s exhausting, [01:05:00] I feel exhausting is like waking up whenever you’re drained and persevering with to do your routine that you simply don’t need to do.
Mike Matthews: It wasn’t, it wasn’t exhausting when, when, uh, we have been 20. Sleep? What was sleep? It didn’t even matter, however it’s totally different now, a minimum of for me, like 5 hours does
Don Saladino: Not feeling the identical anymore.
Don Saladino: It doesn’t. However yeah, I feel if folks need to take note of doing the exhausting issues, be constant along with your diet, get to mattress on time each evening, attempt to, you recognize, remove or restrict alcohol, get excessive protein. Like these, these are usually not horny issues, however they’re undoubtedly going to pay the largest 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 doable that it may be used. Yeah, that could be categorized that manner. Nonetheless, 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’ll be able to, you’ll be able to, 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 at least one via any individual 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 needs to be seven, eight years, has been strolling across the health club, 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 bought one other, [01:07:00] one other man following him, I feel, 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 are 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: Typically I’ll take amino acids if my protein could be low that day or if I’m weight-reduction plan. I take an excellent 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 like it as a result of it’s bought magnesium, it’s bought L-theanine, it’s bought inositol, it’s bought glycine, all the nice sleep, uh, sleep aids, um, L-glutamine, and you recognize, I’ll take a protein complement and I gotta take a protein powder.
Don Saladino: But it surely’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 similar 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 handle it as a result of folks have been like, protein, I heard protein powders make you fats.
Don Saladino: Proper. We mentioned 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 know the way I got here throughout her. Any individual instructed me, sure, I’ve heard that. I don’t know the small print. I suppose he bought kicked out after which they bought mad at one another.
Mike Matthews: I don’t know. Really, I don’t know the small print. 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 imagined to, what else am I imagined to conclude?
Mike Matthews: If you wish to play physician, go grow to be a health care provider. So, I don’t know.
Don Saladino: I feel a whole lot of these guys get a bit fluffy.
Mike Matthews: Properly, it’s biohacking. That’s the [01:09:00] pink flag. Anybody who calls themselves a biohacker, pink 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 bought a kick out of just lately although, trigger I talked out of this occasion referred to as pneumonia at West Palm, that man, Brian Johnson, the one attempting to stay to be like, no matter he’s like, you recognize what?
Mike Matthews: Type of seems so—he seems sort of like a lizard already or one thing or perhaps 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 mentioned it. And other people have been like, what I didn’t respect. Everybody lives the life that they need to stay, hopefully, proper?
Don Saladino: Like, if in case you have the flexibility to stay the way in which you need to stay, 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, folks have been coming at him, like, the ladies in The View have been like, have a life. I’m like, sort of pondering to myself, I felt dangerous for him.
Don Saladino: I’m like, that is the life he desires to stay. That is what he’s doing. He appears actually completely happy. And, uh, no matter. However he a minimum of took possession over the truth that what he does is a bit bizarre and unusual. And a whole lot of docs have 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 similar to, pay attention, I simply need to see what I can do with the human physique. And for me, I’ve the cash, I’ve the assets. That is one thing that I take pleasure in doing and I’m going to benefit from it. When he sort 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 like—I don’t pay an excessive amount of consideration, however from what I’ve seen—a good quantity of it’s based mostly on current literature after which a good quantity of it’s speculative, however it’s not absurd.
Mike Matthews: It’s based mostly on mechanics that may be defined that a minimum of 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 offered that manner, I don’t suppose there’s something improper with that per se. And even in the event you have been to say like, I truly don’t suggest that I’m doing it as a result of that is sort 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 a bit of, I imply, the entire business has grow to be a bit of a lot of the biohackers. Most of them to me ought to simply sort of go away. And that sounds fairly horrible for me to say, however I don’t know.
Don Saladino: You’ve bought actually clever docs on the market. You’ve bought people who find themselves like, you recognize, Dr. Gabrielle Lyon, uh, Dr. Dwayne Jackson, who’s sort of extra of an unknown and he’s one in all Prescript’s docs. And even like listening to Huberman the opposite day—I had dinner with him, like a brilliant good man, working on the Chilly Spring Labs proper over right here.
Don Saladino: Like, folks hate him as a result of he’s simply discovered a option to grow to be actually profitable. And he’s within the media a bit of bit. The man’s tremendous good. So it’s like, these are the folks I’d relatively hearken to. These folks. Like, why am I, why am I going to go hearken to a biohacker who’s simply [01:12:00] sort of, you recognize, strolling round with blue gentle blockers all day?
Don Saladino: I simply, I feel—and the explanation why it sounds a bit of abrasive, how I’m placing it, it’s simply, I feel they grow to be a bit irresponsible. Their habits turns into irresponsible once they’re coming in with this one-size-fits-all method or once they’re turning round to folks, somebody within the Midwest proper now who’s been consuming Egg McMuffins each morning.
Don Saladino: And out of the blue they’re like, you recognize what? I bought on the spot oats, Quaker on the spot oats, and it’s, um, it’s cinnamon taste and it’s bought 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 sincere with what the fuck’s higher for you.
Don Saladino: However now you’re telling this one who’s attempting to make a bit of little bit of an effort. You’re discouraging them by saying, nicely, 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 you recognize what? Taking a minimalistic method typically to present them a bit of 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 could have the exception, however with most individuals.
Don Saladino: Proper. Each now and again, 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, and so they come again, and so they’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 habits and the, and the data they’re giving. It’s actually messing folks up, it’s actually complicated them, and it’s preserving them away from having the ability to take the correct 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. Plenty of the claims which are made are simply false. So we’re speaking about basically mendacity for a dwelling.
Don Saladino: It’s mendacity.
Mike Matthews: Appropriate. Mendacity for a dwelling, like that’s principally what I do. I lie for a dwelling.
Don Saladino: Mainly, it’s simply turning round saying, I’m going to say this to, uh, as could possibly be, become profitable. That’s it.
Mike Matthews: Yeah, become profitable. Finally, it’s simply to become profitable. Properly, uh, we’ve gone on one other nearly 20 minutes now. So, uh, once more, I recognize the time. Why don’t we wrap up shortly, with the place folks 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 website, sort of spells every part on the market. Uh, host applications, challenges, do consulting. I’ve bought a brand new podcast launching with the Gaines household, Joanna and Chip Gaines from Magnolia this 12 months. I’m writing a guide. I simply signed a cope with Countryman Press. So I’ve rolled that out. Ryan Reynolds is writing the foreword.
Don Saladino: Received some nice tasks 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 individual.
Mike Matthews: Completely. Thanks.
Mike Matthews: Earlier than we shut out right this moment’s episode, I must let you know about an power drink that I feel is the proper different to espresso or pre-workout whenever you simply desire a increase to get via a exercise or perhaps a day droop.
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Mike Matthews: Properly, 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 a bit of bit, which in fact then makes it a bit of bit extra simply discovered by different individuals who could prefer it simply as a lot as you.
Mike Matthews: And in the event you didn’t like one thing about this episode or concerning the present usually, or if in case you have concepts or solutions, or simply suggestions to share, shoot me an e-mail at [email protected] and let me know what I can do higher or simply what your ideas are about perhaps what you’d prefer to see me do sooner or later.
Mike Matthews: I learn every part myself. I’m at all times searching for new concepts and constructive suggestions. So thanks once more for listening to this episode, and I hope to listen to from you quickly.
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