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

Being in the health & fitness field for over a decade and a half, I’ve been fortunate to see some big shifts happening. There’s been huge shifts in our society's overreliance on processed, convenience foods (my idea of healthy when I first began my career was a lean cuisine microwave dinner… hey, it was low fat!). There’s been shifts in our awareness of the need for daily movement (not just conventional “exercise”). There has also been a tremendous shift in the way that physicians are treating their patients. In the last decade, we’ve seen an explosion in integrative medicine, functional medicine, holistic medicine, and the like. These are, in general terms, approaches that take into consideration more of the patient’s lifestyle, and seek to find ways to remove the root cause of their health struggles, and not just treat symptoms with drugs or surgery. Everything in medicine has its place, but a shockingly large number of ailments that conventional medicine fails to resolve can be improved substantially w

Relationships can be a lot of work. There’s no denying that. But, you’d be hard-pressed to find anything more impactful on the quality of your life than your relationships. So, isn’t it a good idea to make good investments into them? Today you’re going to learn about the most valuable tracking metric we have for our success in life… something called ROR. More importantly, we’re going to take a good look at the status of our most important relationships and make some decisions on the moves that need to be made. There’s a saying that people come into your life for a reason, for a season, or for a lifetime. Every relationship you’ve ever had has brought forth the opportunity to learn something valuable, even if it was for a short time (a reason). Some relationships last a certain period of time and provide the experience you need to move forward in your growth, even if they, or you, outgrow each other at some point (a season). While some relationships will walk closely with you for the rest of your life… providi

There’s an epidemic happening in our society right now. No, not the one regarding our skyrocketing health issues. This epidemic is even more pervasive. It’s a silent epidemic takes a person’s life while they still continue to live. Symptoms include not having a big enough vision for one’s life, not taking inspired action, and not having fulfillment in multiple areas of life. This epidemic is a condition known as playing small. And today’s the day we find the cure. This powerhouse episode features Andy Frisella, the CEO of one of the fastest growing supplement companies in history, and someone who’s quickly become an international icon for success. He’s definitely had his own struggles (with his health, finances, and more), but he’s found the specific action steps for achieving incredible prosperity in multiple areas of life. He’s here today to inspire you to think bigger than you ever have, and provide some valuable tips and insights to get you to your goals with speed. In this episode you'll discover: The s

Today, more than ever, we are mistaking being busy for being effective. Great work is more valuable than ever today. Whether it’s work related to health and fitness, real estate, tech, art, or any other field, the quantity today is massive. But quality is what we truly desire. For those willing to engage in deep work (the topic of which we’ll be dissecting today), the potential upside is limitless. Through deep work, you’ll be able to experience better financial health, relationship health, physical health, and more. But, be aware, there are treacherous obstacles looming. You’ll have to make some mental shifts in order to avoid the booby traps of distraction that have a chokehold on most of the folks in our society. The tips and insights you’ll learn from today’s guest, Cal Newport, will be absolutely life-changing. Click play, listen deeply, and enjoy! In this episode you'll discover: How the average human lifespan is shortened, not by health issues, but by distraction. Why there is a huge deficiency in the

Something’s not adding up. We’ve got more gyms, more fitness classes, and more health food stores per person in the U.S. than any other country in the world. Yet, we are continuously at the top of the list of countries with the most obesity and chronic illness. Either we just need to make our continent into one massive gym to get this right, or there’s something left out of the equation that we’ve been missing. On today’s show, we’re covering what this very thing is with one of the most skilled and well-respected fitness experts in the world, Luka Hocevar. Luka’s story is incredible in and of itself (which you’ll hear on the show). But what he’s doing right now, and the impact he’s making, is flat out remarkable. He’s going to share with you what EVERY effective exercise program must have, whether you’re an elite athlete or a stay-at-home parent who’s just wanting to get in better shape. Plus, you’re going to learn about this ancient old, yet, brand new concept of movement hygiene. And I think it just might c

Life happens. Once you’ve woken up to the vast benefits of high quality sleep, it’s not always going to be smooth sailing. You can employ great tactics to ensure you’re getting the sleep your body needs, but from time-to-time, those plans are going to go straight out the window. And that’s ok. Today you’re going to receive a masterclass on recovering from the occasional bout of sleep deprivation with ease and grace. This episode is loaded with tips and insights you can keep in your superhero utility belt for when they’re needed. So, just click play, take good notes, and enjoy! In this episode you'll discover: What the two types of sleep deprivation are. How even short-term sleep debt impacts your health. Why it’s important to eliminate some of the neuroses around getting to bed (and enjoy life a little more sometimes!). The #1 way to prevent sleep deprivation in the first place. How your circadian timing system works. How to help “reset” your body’s biological rhythms when need be. How sunlight positively in

“We have met the enemy, and he is us.” These are the wise words stated in the long-running comic strip Pogo by Walt Kelly. Who knew a comic strip could drop such profound truth?! The greatest obstacle in our success is not something or someone external… our greatest obstacle is our own minds! We all have the capacity for so much, but what usually throws a metaphorical banana in our path (causing us to slip up) is our old way of being, our disempowering beliefs, and just good old-fashioned self-sabotage. The assessment may arise, “Why on earth would we sabotage ourselves?!” I want to win! I want to succeed! I’m not going to stop myself by choice!” And therein lies the crux of the situation. Our self-sabotage is hardly ever a conscious choice. Moving past our self-sabotaging tendencies requires us to do some intelligent inner work. And that’s why I brought on renowned keynote speaker, bestselling author, and master coach, Christine Hassler. In this episode you'll discover: How alcohol affects your sleep. What

Every human has the capacity to achieve great things. That’s undeniable. But what makes the difference between those who step into that greatness, and those who let their potential dwindle and die? I think the answer to that question can be summed up in one word: will. When the inevitable challenges arrive in the pursuit of your goals, you need the will to push through. When things don’t go your way, how’s that willpower looking then? When simply giving yourself permission to want what you really want, you have to have the will to claim it. Willpower is not a motivational idea, it’s a necessity for anything of great success. My guest today won a Super Bowl championship in the NFL, he was voted the NFL’s fittest man, and he’s currently one of the most influential figures in the world in fitness. He will tell you that it was not his connections, it was not his natural physical attributes, it was, in fact, his will that was his superpower to help him achieve all that he has. Can you develop and flex your muscles

On any given workday, the average person in our modern world devotes about 50% of their waking hours to work. That’s a lot of time investment. And, believe it or not, this time investment has huge implications on your health, happiness, and longevity. Today we’re talking about how our work influences our health. Plus, more importantly, we’re covering specific ways that you can adjust your work (or perception of your work) to enable you to get more joy, health, and success out of the thing you likely will spend half of your waking hours doing. Today’s world is very different from the one our family member’s lived in just a couple generations ago. We live at a time of instant access to virtually everything. We live at a time of greater connection to people all over the world. And we live of more opportunity than ever to do work that we are deeply connected to. That’s why I thought our guest Chris Ducker would be the best person to help share these insights with you. He’s experienced the whole gamut of work expe

Bonus alert! I just couldn’t wait to share this episode with you. This week we’ve got a special bonus with the one and only Dr. Mark Hyman! Mark is a 10, count’em, 10-time New York Times bestselling author. He’s a leading educator and advocate of functional medicine. Plus, (and most importantly) he’s someone with a courageous heart that has put him on the front lines for making change in what ends up on our dinner plates. Mark had a big impact on me personally early in my career. He was one of the first people to provide me with evidence-based data on how type II diabetes could successfully be reversed. At that time, around a decade ago, it just wasn’t something you heard well-respected physicians talk about very often. He had a great communication style, and helped to empower people by making complex concepts understandable for everyone. Today we’re tackling the topic of food controversy. There are obviously so many diets… so many theories… and so many belief systems about what diet works best for us as huma

Love is one of the most powerful forces in the universe. Not just in a metaphysical way, but in a very tangible, practical way that guides our choices everyday. Love compels us to care for and support others. Love compels us to create and bring our thoughts into physical form. Love compels us to put ourselves in harm’s way so that others can live. Love compels us to work hard, to practice, and to respect the process. Love compels us to get back up when we fall, and rise to the challenge in the face of adversity. Love heals. Love is also not discriminatory. Although, that’s the way our society has allowed it to be framed. In our world today, it’s ok to love someone or something else. But, loving yourself… nah. That would be self-centered. What if I told you that loving yourself was the greatest love of all? Hold up, have you actually listened to Whitney Houston’s song “Greatest Love Of All”? Well, let me give you a little refresher: I believe that children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the

Conventional wisdom would tell you that there are only two types of foods: foods that are good for you and foods that are bad for you. The truth is, there is a whole lot of grey area when it comes to the foods that we eat. There are certain foods that provide us with key, valuable nutrients, but also come packaged with some straight up poisons. Our job is to be able to weigh the cost-benefit analysis, and select the foods that provide us with the most benefit and least downside. Hopefully, also, we experience the immense joy of eating along the way. Because, at the end of the day, that’s another important part of food that really makes it all worth it. Today we’re diving into which foods are the best and worst for your brain. And there’s no better person on the planet to break it down for us than Dr. David Perlmutter. He’s one of the most decorated MDs in the country, and the only Board-Certified Neurologist with the distinction of being a Fellow of the American College of Nutrition as well. We’re also going

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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