Optimization versus reality: A workout before work

Wake up, meditate for 15 minutes, get morning sun in your face, take an ice bath, write a journal entry and then start your day? What world do these podcasters live in? In this video I show you my very brief ventral torso workout that I did on my way into work. For those that live in the real world, things have to fit within the constraints of recovery. This is how I am trying to make it work.

[danhayek]

Thank you for pushing back on the ridiculous routines pushed by so many people. I don't have time to devote 3 hours to working out and then another 3 to making all my meals, I have work to do and a life to live.

[JW-ndnv]

Dr. McGuff is a badass. Hearing him talk about work ethic (not just exercise) is always great. Years ago, I recall him talking about studying for medical school and the commitments involved in residency. Dude was rocking Arthur Jones style workouts 3x per week, eventually realizing “Hey, I feel like hammered dog shit.” Glad to know he’s still tweaking recovery and making adjustments to adapt to imposed demands—both inside and outside of the gym!

[danbryant]

Thanks for sharing, Dr. McGuff. I appreciate the mention of recovery as being the rate limiting factor of progress. I’m raising a baby and a toddler and have been getting down on myself for barely feeling able to workout once every 10-14 days or so. The description you gave of your split at the end gave me some good ideas for retooling my own training. Thanks again.

[williamdegroot]

Dr. McGruff amen to that! Too many bloggers don't provide advice for people in the real world (working stiffs with families).

[davidsears]

I've done a similar workout since i saw your video on a 6 way split. I'm 67 and it has probably been the best workout I've tried. It's definitely a consideration for older trainees.

[SuperFitnessForever]

I love your excellent equipment as well as your strong emphasise on recovery!

[stringlarson]

I'm pushing 60 and have been thru a lot of othropedic surgeries due to OA and old injuries. I've been incorporating these concepts into my PT as well as at home with resistance bands for the times when I can't get to the gym.
Thanks Dr. McGuff for posting these, and showing an entire routine all the way through rather than "here's the motion to target X and do Y reps" etc.
While I do get a lot out of the HubermanLab podcast, I had to laugh at you calling him (others?) out on this stuff. Gave me a good lulz.

[dennisrkb]

Wish I had discovered this gem of a channel sooner.

[SteveSorensen-tq]

Just started watching your vids Dr. McGuff. I find your information to be excellent. Nice to see someone who has a life outside of training give us working stiffs the information we need. I'm 61, been doing this stuff a long time, since I was 16. Never understood how some of the people I read about or see on youtube do their 2 hour workouts 5-6 days a week and still lead a normal life. If that was the type of training that was required for results, and nothing else worked, I just wouldn't train. I couldn't justify the time for it. Thanks for your info. Waiting on your Body By Science book, just ordered it from Amazon.

[sovereignbrother]

Shout to Dr. Karl Goldkamp for introducing this workout and work to me. You were right, its the best.

[MississippiWopGenius]

awesome- I did 405 on the bench back in early 2010's( in my late 40's) and this super slow rep style is the by far the best workout you can do

[pure.physique]

1000% percent agree! I'm not sure how any human being can be productive while at the same time spending hours each morning working through their "morning routine". Here's a novel idea... put your workout first then go to work and be a productive contributing member of society.

[Gratitude.Taknemmelighed]

Thank you. Very informative. I’ve definitely been trying to “wring” too much out of my sets.

[johnnickless]

Powerful point. Real lives. Real workout.

[ChrisGraeme]

Thanks as ever for keeping it real for those of us with proper jobs and commitments

[mattimus]

I hope sane work/life balance reform comes to not only the medical industry but all fields. It's tragic that for all our cleverness and technological advancement in 10, 000 years of agricultural civilization so many people still have to work like beasts of burden. I really enjoyed Body By Science and would love to see this level of optimization applied to so many other aspects of life. Great to see you still at it, keep on keeping on brother.

[davidmanning]

A powerfully pragmatic approach, that will help many people

[johnfisher]

Another question Doug, as one example, Drew Baye says set extending techniques are not needed, Purley, as you do in this video, push to positive failure... There is a view that too much intensity can cause all the bodies resources to be used just on recovery without over compensation for tissue enhancement. What's your
current view?

[DrewBaye]

I wish I had one of those SuperSlow Systems neck machines. I will probably have to settle for eventually buying the Hammer Strength one and modify the resistance curve.

[rapoet]

QUESTION: 11:30 @DrDougMcGuff when you say "Clearly I'm not optimizing for hypertrophy [or recovery]", does that mean if you were training the Full body (rather than split between separate days), 1. Hypertrophy would be optimized? 2. You would be able to extend days of recovery? Thank you!