Hey Noah - What are some substacks, newsletters, books, websites etc. you like to learn new information? What resources do you rely on for deep dives? Thanks in advance!
I have a 15 month old and am struggling to fit workouts in. I had a typical push-pull-squat week but I haven't seen much progress, or at least not a satisfying amount. Any tips for a father looking to avoid the dad-bod?
Dad of 2 with another on the way. Like Noah said, be an opportunist and know what works for you. For me, it became working out at night, after dinner and the kiddos go down. I tried working out in the morning, not good for me like it used to be.
I also focused on DHT and T maxxing, which is why I’m a fan of Noah. Not because my levels were low, but because evidence has shown post partum also affects dad’s estrogen levels rising as well. Couple that with less sleep, and everyday life, it got me unmotivated for a bit.
But I stuck with it and tell myself no matter what, I’m not gonna be a dad that isn’t strong and resilient for my kids. So, slower gains cause of less sleep? Oh well, better than no gains.
Also, as soon as I’m done lifting, it’s immediate cold chamomile tea and protein powder mixed together. Calms me down from the lift, and gets my protein so when I’m done showering, I hit the bed.
Hi Noah, I recently got a grade 2 strain in my quad and I’m hoping to expedite and improve the recovery process as much as possible.
I have BPC-157 in the arsenal, as well as collagen, gelatin, respective muscle/tendon animal products and lots of fruits in a balanced diet, and red light therapy. I plan to follow standard load & range of motion regression and then progression in a variety of exercises as my PT approach. Beyond actually going to a PT for manual therapy and any other e-stim, laser therapy, etc type assists, do you think I’m missing anything to tackle my injury recovery from all angles?
As a fellow Minnesotan, I am sure you know this time of year is tough! We are turning the clocks back one hour tonight and it will be getting dark at like 5pm. Historically, this time of year is when the seasonal depression creeps up.
What would be your standard Seasonal Affective Disorder Protocol? Supplements, activities, anything thing to spring me into some momentum... I have been forcing myself to go to the lake and take like a 5 minute cold plunge and this has been helping, but I need to gear up!
Hi Noah, how can I reduce sebum production? I have oily acne prone skin and my face gets really oily throughout the day. Only found success when using Accutane. Would appreciate help on how to heal acne scars too. Thanks.
Tracking devices give you a compartmentalized view of your health as a whole and over-relies on half-baked metrics. I don't use them but find them interesting when implementing new protocols
You will not be able to block EMFs from surrounding apartments. Do what you can to reduce EMF mitigation in your house. No plugged in outlets in bedroom while sleeping. Get more grounding in. Address heavy metal overload
I saw a quick video of yours from a while back on training neck for grappling + aesthetics. Any updates or new things you are playing with for neck size and strength, especially for grappling ?
The main focus there was teaching myself to utilize my neck in compound exercises. It now gets activated when benching, overhead pressing, deadlifting, and most other exercises
For actual activities, Lots of stretching, neck crunches & neck bridges. Thats really it. Simple
Hope all is well with you and your family especially with hurricanes and all sorts.
In your personal opinion what are the ventures that are worth getting into? (Ai, crypto, stocks, trades etc.) im just curious about what you think tbh.
Whatever you feel 1. Deeply interested in and 2. Uniquely talented in.
For me that was marketing & health. I tried finance, I tried tech, I tried crypto. I was good enough to get by but never good enough to be great. And I wasn't even interested in them they were just what everybody was telling me to go into.
I started winning when I stopped listening to the hype and followed what felt right to me. What I was good at. What I was interested in. Chasing quick cash and "once in a lifetime opportunities" is low ROI. Pursuing mastery in your field of choice is how you win in the long run.
Find what you enjoy, find what you're good at, find a way to make that profitable
Hey Noah, as far as you know are there any legit benefits to keeping your wisdom teeth in besides “protecting the flow of your chakra” or just having extra teeth, and then trusting your body to straighten them out on its own?
Ive done some searching online but everything is pretty heavily influenced by Big Toothextractoor
I get that jaw development used to be different on a hunters diet vs modern diet but wanted to see if you had any input
The logic is that "every part of the body is there for a reason" and thus removing wisdom teeth can cause issues we may not be aware of.
Removing wisdom teeth is usually unprompted (no negative symptoms) and create unnecessary risk of surgical complications & neuropathy. Removing wisdom teeth can lead to restructuring of the jaw (like when people have no teeth and their face gets all weird, albeit a much lesser degree)
Wisdom teeth removal is a profitable industry. They are incentivized to remove those teeth. These shouldn't be removed unless pain is significant
I would love to hear your thoughts on mindbody symptoms and chronic pains, if you aware of Dr John Sarno and his teachings regarding the concept of Tension Myositis syndrome.
Lots of talk on emotions/ the mind etc,
this knowledge completely changed my life and health compared to any other treatment method.
Rather than going straight for the holistic health modality to fix these, I applied this knowledge to heal back pain, stomach problems, skin issues, chronic conditions, everything all gone.
Please give some insight on how the regular person could look at and apply this concept of Mindbody symptoms, and in what way might you practically apply it over opting for a natural alternative treatment for health problems?
If you have any experience here, hope to hear abt it!
Hey Josh, Yes I'm familiar with TMS. And I find merit in it.
Weeding through all of the woo-woo, the key takeaways (and caveats) that people can garner from Sarno is:
- Our brain likes to distract itself from negative emotion & stress
- It often does this by amplifying pain in the body (which is why that nagging back injury is so much more noticeable when under stress)
- If you're somebody who is constantly injured (another problem pops up once the last one heals), your issue may be more psychological than physical)
- An underrated way to heal from physical pain is to address psychological baggage. This is why practices that align the brain & body can make pain entirely dissipate (yoga, handstands, martial arts, tai chi)
- If you're afraid of physical activity because of an injury, partaking in that physical activity can "prove" to your brain that you're not actually injured"
- This also applies to: Acne, IBS, and other nagging issues
In short, your brain plays its own games to keep itself happy. It'll amplify problems elsewhere to distract you. Playing into the "I'm chronically injured" mindset will amplify these distractions (you're proving to your brain that this tactic works). This is (imo) why people can "give up" trying to treat chronic issues and go live on the beach only for all of their symptoms to dissipate
With so many supplements out there, what are the main ones would you recommend for someone to take daily? & how do we know if its a reputable supplement brand ?
Cycle everything always. Everybody responds differently so there are no "unanimous" daily supplements. Get bloodwork, know why you're taking the supplements you're taking.
BUT our modern environment leads to some very common deficiencies & health hurdles. Here are a list of supplements I find most people will benefit from & has low risk of side effects:
- Creatine
- Taurine
- Glycine
- Methylated B-Complex
- Magnesium Glycinate
Be highly skeptical with brands. Trust ones with name and reputation. i'm at the point where I need to know the team behind the product to buy it. Especially with ones I plan on taking consistently.
Look at reviews, look at business reports, look for transparency with brand & ingredients. I like Lifeblud a lot for basic amino acids & minerals
Hi Noah, do you have any best practices or protocol to improve and support vascularity? Seems you made very drastic and noticeable improvements over the past few years
Essentially, I got shredded, packed on muscle in key areas, increased blood volume & blood vessel formation, and reduced water retention by lowering estrogen.
Protocol-wise: Increase DHT. That will do all of these aformentioned things
It would highly depend on the tournament. Preparation would be more about avoiding new variables than implementing new ones.
You perform like you practice, So I would be testing different methods weeks beforehand during practice:
- What gives me the best sleep?
- What carb volume & timing gives me best performance?
- What compounds, if any, can improve my performance?
I don't believe in over-optimizing before performances because it gets you into the "chasing perfect" trap. No matter how much you optimize, you're going to worry that you're not 100%. Instead, I like to perform at 60%. Tired, hungover, etc. If I'm not entirely prepared, i have no other option but to work with what I've got. To be resourceful, scrappy, to know that I'm capable of performing even at sub-optimal levels.
This is the paradox of prep. Prep happens daily during practice. Once the time comes, forget everything you know and follow the spur of the moment. Thats how it works for me
Hey Noah - What are some substacks, newsletters, books, websites etc. you like to learn new information? What resources do you rely on for deep dives? Thanks in advance!
Great question!
Most of my new information comes from studies (found on google), conversations with my custom AI bot (Geekbot), forums (like reddit), and Youtube
Watch my video on hyperlearning (youtube) to see how I approach learning in this extremely busy world.
As for books, its whatever peaks my interest. I don't force myself to finish them anymore and move on frequently. All books could have been articles
Hey Noah, what would you take/do to maximize beard growth (density, thickness, length…)? thanks!
DHT Max!
Butea superba (oral)
BPC 157 (oral)
Topical ashwagandha
Microneedling
Red light therapy
What does topically applied ashwagandha do exactly? Thanks!
I have a 15 month old and am struggling to fit workouts in. I had a typical push-pull-squat week but I haven't seen much progress, or at least not a satisfying amount. Any tips for a father looking to avoid the dad-bod?
You must become an absolute opportunist.
Maybe you can't get a square workout in, but can you get 10 pushups in before hopping in the shower?
Can you set up a pull-up bar in your doorway and do five every time you walk through?
Can you do some resistance band pushes while watching cartoons with the kiddo?
Can you go for a ruck with him/her on your back like a rucksack?
All just ideas. This is as much a creative exercise as it is a willpower process. How can you incorporate workout "snacks" in throughout your day?
Dad of 2 with another on the way. Like Noah said, be an opportunist and know what works for you. For me, it became working out at night, after dinner and the kiddos go down. I tried working out in the morning, not good for me like it used to be.
I also focused on DHT and T maxxing, which is why I’m a fan of Noah. Not because my levels were low, but because evidence has shown post partum also affects dad’s estrogen levels rising as well. Couple that with less sleep, and everyday life, it got me unmotivated for a bit.
But I stuck with it and tell myself no matter what, I’m not gonna be a dad that isn’t strong and resilient for my kids. So, slower gains cause of less sleep? Oh well, better than no gains.
Also, as soon as I’m done lifting, it’s immediate cold chamomile tea and protein powder mixed together. Calms me down from the lift, and gets my protein so when I’m done showering, I hit the bed.
Long, but I hope it helps.
Incredible insight!
Hey Noah, are there any downsides to doing a 1 week mini cut, 8 weeks into a bulk?
Probably not, you likely need it for insulin sensitivity & overall keeping your metabolism on its toes. Especially 8 weeks in.
Go for it!
Hi Noah, I recently got a grade 2 strain in my quad and I’m hoping to expedite and improve the recovery process as much as possible.
I have BPC-157 in the arsenal, as well as collagen, gelatin, respective muscle/tendon animal products and lots of fruits in a balanced diet, and red light therapy. I plan to follow standard load & range of motion regression and then progression in a variety of exercises as my PT approach. Beyond actually going to a PT for manual therapy and any other e-stim, laser therapy, etc type assists, do you think I’m missing anything to tackle my injury recovery from all angles?
Hey Josh, you're covering all the essential bases and then some. Muscle is quick to recover compared to tendon & bone.
Don't sleep on micronutrients here. Namely vitamin Consider TB-500 combined with BPC 157 for synergistic healing effect
As a fellow Minnesotan, I am sure you know this time of year is tough! We are turning the clocks back one hour tonight and it will be getting dark at like 5pm. Historically, this time of year is when the seasonal depression creeps up.
What would be your standard Seasonal Affective Disorder Protocol? Supplements, activities, anything thing to spring me into some momentum... I have been forcing myself to go to the lake and take like a 5 minute cold plunge and this has been helping, but I need to gear up!
Thanks brother! Best to you!
Get as much sun as possible while you still can
Consider vitamin D supplementation (5,000 IU w/ Vitamin K2)
Purchase a red light & vitamin D lamp
Get access to a sauna
Have one physical activity that still gets you outside during the winter (ice hockey? Shoveling snow?)
Hi Noah, how can I reduce sebum production? I have oily acne prone skin and my face gets really oily throughout the day. Only found success when using Accutane. Would appreciate help on how to heal acne scars too. Thanks.
Microneedling & GHK-cu for acne scars
Vitamin B5 and L-carnitine for reducing excess sebum production
What protocols are you levering to take care of parasites?
Parasites are less of a concern to me at the moment, more focused on candida (much more difficult to kill)
I'm leveraging a combination of dietary, lifestyle, and supplement-based approaches.
The focus is on
1. destroying candida/parasite biofilm
2. Killing the pathogens
3. Properly removing parasite/candida waste that is released
4. Maintaining proper microbial balance to prevent future contamination
Hey noah, i currently live in a small condo building only 2 stories, whats the best way to block emf from surrounding apartments?
Similarly, what are your thoughts on sleep tracking devices (whoop,aura ring) being attached to your body all day?
Tracking devices give you a compartmentalized view of your health as a whole and over-relies on half-baked metrics. I don't use them but find them interesting when implementing new protocols
You will not be able to block EMFs from surrounding apartments. Do what you can to reduce EMF mitigation in your house. No plugged in outlets in bedroom while sleeping. Get more grounding in. Address heavy metal overload
I saw a quick video of yours from a while back on training neck for grappling + aesthetics. Any updates or new things you are playing with for neck size and strength, especially for grappling ?
The main focus there was teaching myself to utilize my neck in compound exercises. It now gets activated when benching, overhead pressing, deadlifting, and most other exercises
For actual activities, Lots of stretching, neck crunches & neck bridges. Thats really it. Simple
Hey Noah,
Hope all is well with you and your family especially with hurricanes and all sorts.
In your personal opinion what are the ventures that are worth getting into? (Ai, crypto, stocks, trades etc.) im just curious about what you think tbh.
✌🏼
Whatever you feel 1. Deeply interested in and 2. Uniquely talented in.
For me that was marketing & health. I tried finance, I tried tech, I tried crypto. I was good enough to get by but never good enough to be great. And I wasn't even interested in them they were just what everybody was telling me to go into.
I started winning when I stopped listening to the hype and followed what felt right to me. What I was good at. What I was interested in. Chasing quick cash and "once in a lifetime opportunities" is low ROI. Pursuing mastery in your field of choice is how you win in the long run.
Find what you enjoy, find what you're good at, find a way to make that profitable
Hey Noah, as far as you know are there any legit benefits to keeping your wisdom teeth in besides “protecting the flow of your chakra” or just having extra teeth, and then trusting your body to straighten them out on its own?
Ive done some searching online but everything is pretty heavily influenced by Big Toothextractoor
I get that jaw development used to be different on a hunters diet vs modern diet but wanted to see if you had any input
The logic is that "every part of the body is there for a reason" and thus removing wisdom teeth can cause issues we may not be aware of.
Removing wisdom teeth is usually unprompted (no negative symptoms) and create unnecessary risk of surgical complications & neuropathy. Removing wisdom teeth can lead to restructuring of the jaw (like when people have no teeth and their face gets all weird, albeit a much lesser degree)
Wisdom teeth removal is a profitable industry. They are incentivized to remove those teeth. These shouldn't be removed unless pain is significant
Thanks unc
Howdy
I would love to hear your thoughts on mindbody symptoms and chronic pains, if you aware of Dr John Sarno and his teachings regarding the concept of Tension Myositis syndrome.
Lots of talk on emotions/ the mind etc,
this knowledge completely changed my life and health compared to any other treatment method.
Rather than going straight for the holistic health modality to fix these, I applied this knowledge to heal back pain, stomach problems, skin issues, chronic conditions, everything all gone.
Please give some insight on how the regular person could look at and apply this concept of Mindbody symptoms, and in what way might you practically apply it over opting for a natural alternative treatment for health problems?
If you have any experience here, hope to hear abt it!
Josh 💪
Hey Josh, Yes I'm familiar with TMS. And I find merit in it.
Weeding through all of the woo-woo, the key takeaways (and caveats) that people can garner from Sarno is:
- Our brain likes to distract itself from negative emotion & stress
- It often does this by amplifying pain in the body (which is why that nagging back injury is so much more noticeable when under stress)
- If you're somebody who is constantly injured (another problem pops up once the last one heals), your issue may be more psychological than physical)
- An underrated way to heal from physical pain is to address psychological baggage. This is why practices that align the brain & body can make pain entirely dissipate (yoga, handstands, martial arts, tai chi)
- If you're afraid of physical activity because of an injury, partaking in that physical activity can "prove" to your brain that you're not actually injured"
- This also applies to: Acne, IBS, and other nagging issues
In short, your brain plays its own games to keep itself happy. It'll amplify problems elsewhere to distract you. Playing into the "I'm chronically injured" mindset will amplify these distractions (you're proving to your brain that this tactic works). This is (imo) why people can "give up" trying to treat chronic issues and go live on the beach only for all of their symptoms to dissipate
With so many supplements out there, what are the main ones would you recommend for someone to take daily? & how do we know if its a reputable supplement brand ?
Cycle everything always. Everybody responds differently so there are no "unanimous" daily supplements. Get bloodwork, know why you're taking the supplements you're taking.
BUT our modern environment leads to some very common deficiencies & health hurdles. Here are a list of supplements I find most people will benefit from & has low risk of side effects:
- Creatine
- Taurine
- Glycine
- Methylated B-Complex
- Magnesium Glycinate
Be highly skeptical with brands. Trust ones with name and reputation. i'm at the point where I need to know the team behind the product to buy it. Especially with ones I plan on taking consistently.
Look at reviews, look at business reports, look for transparency with brand & ingredients. I like Lifeblud a lot for basic amino acids & minerals
Hi Noah, do you have any best practices or protocol to improve and support vascularity? Seems you made very drastic and noticeable improvements over the past few years
I believe a lot of my vascularity came from:
- Increased DHT causing muscle hardness, blood volume, & less water retention
- BPC 157 causing formation of new blood vessels
- Getting shredded
- Sunlight & Grounding 24/7 to increase Nitric Oxide
- Taurine improving cellular hydration & electrolyte balance
Essentially, I got shredded, packed on muscle in key areas, increased blood volume & blood vessel formation, and reduced water retention by lowering estrogen.
Protocol-wise: Increase DHT. That will do all of these aformentioned things
Hey Noah
If you were to perform in any given sport tournament. What would you do to optimise your performance during the day of event/night before? :)
It would highly depend on the tournament. Preparation would be more about avoiding new variables than implementing new ones.
You perform like you practice, So I would be testing different methods weeks beforehand during practice:
- What gives me the best sleep?
- What carb volume & timing gives me best performance?
- What compounds, if any, can improve my performance?
I don't believe in over-optimizing before performances because it gets you into the "chasing perfect" trap. No matter how much you optimize, you're going to worry that you're not 100%. Instead, I like to perform at 60%. Tired, hungover, etc. If I'm not entirely prepared, i have no other option but to work with what I've got. To be resourceful, scrappy, to know that I'm capable of performing even at sub-optimal levels.
This is the paradox of prep. Prep happens daily during practice. Once the time comes, forget everything you know and follow the spur of the moment. Thats how it works for me