Is Paleo Crunch going to make you fat? Is diabetes any more preventable if you eat cereal made from “paleo approved” sources as opposed to General Mills approved crap? Did cavemen crave bread before bread existed?

Self-experimentation is a hobby we all have whether we know it or not. Some of us just take really bad notes and are really poor scientists. There are a few trials that have been hanging around for a while that I figured I would toss out there and see if any brave souls want to throw their hat in the ring and give them a shot. Or, give me a test that you would like to see us run and maybe we can perform it here for everyone to see.

How to self-experiment.

-Define a clear start and end date. Usually at least six weeks.
-Get a baseline. This usually looks like blood work, pictures, body weight, body fat, strength numbers, and met-con times.
-Pick your component, or components if it’s a combo test.
-Start a journal.
-Perform it, and only it for the defined time. If you change anything, the test is invalid.

Heavy creatine

I have been taking 20g of creatine a day for the last 6 weeks. Also, to get even more creatine, I have ingested almost all of my protein from red meat. The rest comes from 8 eggs/day. I have gained 5 lbs and lost 8mm of body fat on calipers.

The “heavy creatine” test as I call it, is but one of many I have tried over the years. Some tests are born of others, some are just epiphanies. If you read the “studies”, I should be in Kidney failure. If you believe the funny page propaganda, I should sprout boobs and grow hair where there was no hair before. And yet I stand, with a bruise on my arm and blood work in hand…kidneys are cool, cholesterol is “low”, triglycerides are laughable, and my blood pressure a mere hour or so after workouts would make Lance Armstrong all hot and bothered…maybe not, but it’s still good. If you wanna see for yourself, email me and we will talk about it.

Paleo crunch/cereal

Paleo crunch is like granola or cereal or something. I have my reservations about products like this but just because I am not sold doesn’t mean we have to right it off without a fair assessment. A diligently training athlete who is currently logging their calories will know pretty quickly if products like Paleo Crunch are all they are cracked up to be or not. Remove 400 Calories from real food, add 400 Calories from Paleo Crunch. Watch, report.

Paleo bread

Somehow Paleo Bread is making a comeback. It has two flavors and is being sold here. In the past I have tasted breads that were essentially a million crushed almonds glued together somehow. They did not taste bad, but one piece of bread was like one bag of almonds. Even for me, someone who eats a tons of fat, that’s a lot. If your dying for a taste of bread again, then maybe you could be my bread guinea pig and give it a shot. Replace one meals worth of fat with the bread. Watch for water/weight gain, or other allergic reactions-report.

Coffee creamer

I still receive the emails from athletes that refuse to give up cream in their coffee. In the same sentence the athlete comments on being at their whits end ready to try everything to reach their goals. Everything except give up cream in their coffee. Every time, I return their refusal, with a refusal of my own.

But all that aside, lets say that we could potentially add cream to coffee and not derail, in fact not even hiccup our results in the least. The only reasonable, albeit untested, option I have ever observed is coconut cream. If your one of those cream in my coffee humans wanting to change things up, give it a try and report back.

Pure Pharma Omega 3

This test is yet another I already am doing and have been for sometime. Personally, I think Pure Pharma is the best fish oil I have taken…however. I may have been hypnotized by the picture of Miko Salo on a banner somewhere. I may have been intrigued by something that wasn’t there.

If you want to re-test my Pure Pharma experience to makes sure I am not a corporate whore falling for marketing then please do. If your already taking 5g of fish oil or more from a brand not Pure Pharma, then, simply exchange your brand gram for gram. Take at least 3 full bottles. After that, report the difference, if any, good or bad.

You don’t have to have a grenade go off in your lap to know it will hurt. However, other tests, like some of the above, benefit from a broader spectrum. I have never, nor will I ever be afraid to experiment. However, I am also completely heartless when it comes to what works and what doesn’t. The test is either all good, or all bad. If an honest test doesn’t make us better humans there is no reason to keep on re-testing the same thing. Move on, keep experimenting, and keep getting better.

Strength:

Back Squat
1×8@60%
1×8@65%
1×8@70%
1×8@75%

For Score:

Max rep-Strict towel pull-up
5-Sumo deadlift high-pull 65/95
5-Hang power clean 65/95
5-Thrusters 65/95
Max rep-Push-up
AMRAP 10 Minutes

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