When I first started graduate school in philosophy I discovered that I had a knack for looking deeply into things that seemed simple on the surface. Philosophy tends to bring this skill out into the open. I decided to apply my philosophical skill to a subject that affects the entire world on a daily basis. My goal was to unearth the first principles of this subject and build upon them a manifesto so perfect that all previous thought concerning this matter would be laid to rest. The entire world would look upon my work to learn, to teach, and to become better. Basketball is not as simple as it seems.

The more I wrote and the deeper I delved revealed more questions that needed to be answered; those, in turn, only led to more. Unperturbed, I continued in my research. I watched basketball on television, studied athletes, and observed trends in the game. I finally arrived at what I felt was the very first principle upon which the new paradigm of basketball would be based; the one factor upon which athletes rise or fall; that which affects a players ability to do anything and everything in the game. Email me at GarrisonEffect@hotmail.com if you want to know what it is.

Lately, while working in the gym, I interact with people on a daily basis that have goals they are trying to achieve. Some have very little trouble reaching their goals while others flounder day in and day out just trying to make the slightest headway. While listening to Diesel and Nitro (remember them?) debate different nutritional strategies I decided that there was one more subject to which I should apply my powerful skill that philosophy had imbued me with. I was going to delve into the field of fitness and discover what the first principles were upon which any fitness regimen would depend (actually, I didnt really have to discover anything, this has always been the case whether people understand it or not).

The variable upon which any fitness program depends is absolutely the nutritional strategy that one employs. Allow this anecdote from my own life to illustrate how this is the case. In February of this year I weighed 198 lbs. In early April of this year my weight had dropped to 175 lbs. Currently, I am holding steady at 180 lbs. However, my calorie intake during the month and a half where I lost 20 lbs. was much more than it was while I was maintaining 198 lbs. Now, Ive weighed around 180 lbs. for four months and my calorie intake is almost 3000 calories a day. Not all are familiar with how much food that is. It is a lot.

What is the significance of these numbers? How did I lose 20 lbs. while eating more? I made a conscious effort every day to eat a good breakfast with quality carbohydrates and protein along with two other meals a day where I had a combination of protein and carbs. Then, I took three meals where I would have only protein. I followed a six-meal-a-day program which basically consisted of breakfast, lunch, and dinner with a protein snack between each meal and one protein snack before bedtime. This helped regulate my blood sugar and keep down the amount of insulin in my body and thereby reduced fat storage. It also increased my metabolism.

Now, almost six months after I changed my eating habits, I am eating almost every hour and forty-five minutes to two hours and I am constantly eating more calories per meal. However, I cannot seem to gain any weight. A friend of mine in the industry told me that everyone has a point at which they can take in no more calories without gaining fat. But, I have not yet reached my limit.

There is a catch, though. If I went to McDonalds or Krispy Kreme and got my calories from places like that, would I be able to eat the same amount of calories and not gain weight? No way. The fact that I eat quality whole grain carbohydrates and other carbs low on the glycemic index and complement the meals in which I have carbs with protein allows me to eat many, many more calories than if I got all of my calories from beer and fries.

People like to eat, I certainly do. And eating every two hours is great. A lot of people do not think that this is possible for them, that their bodies are different. This just is not true. Everyone has genetic limitations. However, with education from professionals who know how to make changes in their own lives, you can enjoy a freedom from (and for) food that you have never experienced. Guys will pack on muscle and strength like they never have once they discover what their nutritional needs are and girls will be able to eat and gain muscle tone without ever having to feel hungry.

The human body is made to use food to feed the body and build muscle necessary for the tasks you give it (resistance exercise today, pulling down a wooly mammoth in the days of yon). Stop trying the starvation methods by only feeding it twice a day or the calorie restriction method that only contributes to muscular atrophy (there is an appropriate time to use calorie restriction but never combined with meal frequency restriction). If you do not know how to get started, pay a professional to show you. I did, and I still learn new things every day.

Mike Garrison is currently a graduate student in philosophy and works full time as a certified personal trainer. He will also take the secrets of basketball to his grave. Unless he is invited to coach a team, then that team will learn and win.
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