Category Archives: Psychology
Enter the Dojo
The Dojo is Now Open! What do you think? Ah, we all can dream right?
Most of us KNOW exactly what we need to do to reach our goals, but few of us actually DO IT.
Real-world results are not about plans. They are about EXECUTION. I can talk about nutrition principles forever, but until you have a true purpose for taking action, all educational efforts are meaningless.
Here’s the deal my friends. We all need some extra help and motivational guidance from time to time in order to maximize our potential. But most modern self-help “gurus” dress that up with way too much mysticism and cult-like co-dependency. They’ve become too wrapped up in their own bullsh*t, falsely believing the messenger is more important than the actual message.
They’ll tell you it’s all about drinking magic tea and floating through space in a lotus pose (I can do both by the way, but I’m not one to brag). Or you need a 47-Level Coaching Program where at the end, if you’re one of the lucky few disciples, you might get to touch the tip of the leader’s penis (or vagina), which of course, is the true key to curing all that ails you.
Although it sounds like a fun show man, none of that is really necessary, because believe it or not, the answer is a lot more simple.
The most valuable lesson I’ve learned in 2012, and really over the last 15 years as a coach — I’m older than I look and normally act — has nothing to do with the nuts and bolts of training or diet, or mystical practices. The true key, the secret to your success in physique transformation, strength sports, or any other sport, and maybe even in life, is this:
You just gotta know what you are fighting for.
If you want to start getting things done, you don’t need tricks and rituals. You need straightforward principles and simple strategies, and then you need to take some personal accountability for your own life, and get out there and fight.
For this reason, I’ve opened up The Dojo. I’ve compiled some lessons learned primarily from the works of Bruce Lee and Miyamoto Musashi (but have sprinkled in other philosophers and even fictional characters). Their “Ronin-style” advice of self-education, authenticity, personal accountability, daily action vs. paralysis by analysis, being your true self vs. projecting an image, passion and sincerity in all things, making choices that are right for you instead of trying to fit into social conventions, and simply putting one foot in front of the other in the face of adversity, has helped me out tremendously — in fitness, in business, in relationships, and in life in general.
Now, before I get a bunch of hate mail, I’m not saying that I’m right. I’m just saying what I believe, and sharing what has helped me in both my personal life, and in my career as a coach. You can’t ask for anything more than that. If you are able to find success and peace of mind via a completely different route, I’m cool with that. And actually, I’ll be really happy for you. That sh*t is too important to try and make you fit into some meaningless system or creed.
But for those interested in learning a little bit more about this random, Ronin Philosophy, The Dojo doors are now open. I invite you to, as the pirates say, “Take what you can. Give nothing back (or give everything back, or share it with your friends, or do whatever feels right by you). I will update the lessons regularly.
The foundational lesson?
It is spiritless to think that you cannot attain to that which you have seen and heard the masters attain. The masters are men. You are also a man. If you think that you will be inferior in doing something, you will be on that road very soon…No matter what it is, there is nothing that cannot be done. If one manifests the determination, he can move heaven and earth as he pleases. — Hagakure.
My Simple (Not Easy) Fat Loss & Health Enhancement Hierarchy
One week. Two nutrition talks. I can say that speaking in front of live audiences with a wide variety of fitness levels, knowledge bases, and goals has forced me to simplify my educational approach and content. That’s a good thing, because a large percentage of the health & fitness industry purposely over-complicates things to sell you a bunch of sh*t you don’t really need. And yes, many advanced athletes are just as information overloaded, and suffering from paralysis by over-analysis, as the beginner. Fitness, and life in general, is simple baby. It is we who over-complicate it.
nerds like me love whiteboards
So here is kind of a summary of what I presented. I’ve always viewed the steps to achieve your fat loss and health enhancement goals in terms of a hierarchy of importance. It took about 10 minutes to go through a rundown of this hierarchy. Dispelling myths took about 2 hours (or until I had to take a piss = the second talk).
1. FOOD CHOICES
Food choices are #1 in your quest for dropping fat, looking good naked, preventing disease, and improving your overall health and wellness.
Moving away from modern Y2K eating by cutting out processed, man-made foods; and returning to our evolutionary, ancestral, or cultural pasts by eating more real, natural foods (wild animals and plants) will take you 90% of the way in achieving your goals, automatically, without all of the over-complication, confusion, and misinformation in the health & fitness industry.
2. DIET STRUCTURE
Choosing the appropriate diet structure FOR YOU (meal frequency and food distribution) is about making your plan as realistic, functional, and sustainable as possible, given your lifestyle, career demands, and goals.
Most approaches (eat 6 small meals, starve at night, etc.) are impractical, and are based more on fitness tradition than scientific necessity. There is no one right Way. The best structure is simply the one that allows you to most consistently stick with your plan.
I believe our hunter-gatherer evolutionary past again provides us with clues. Eat lighter while active and “hunting” during the day, and eat the majority of your calories at night while relaxing or socializing. That’s not the only way, but it is one of the easiest ways, because it goes with our natural instincts, which is to feast at night.
Warner Bros photo
Many do this naturally, albeit with poor food choices. It is the poor food choices that are the problem, not the diet structure itself. Correct the food choices and you correct the problem, that’s why food choices always remains #1.
You can attain a good level of health and fitness, and a natural bodyweight, with steps 1 & 2 alone. Simple — not easy — simple. So quit saying it is so confusing. It’s not. Confusion and complication comes from not doing what you know you should be doing, and looking for an “easier”, magic-pill like way.
3. DIET DETAILS & ADVANCED PRINCIPLES
Detailed dietary calculations (calories, protein, carbs, fat grams, etc.) and principles (calorie/carb cycling) are more for advanced athletes trying to attain higher-level performance or physique goals. Take care of the big picture basics first — eating real foods and finding a sustainable diet structure. Then dive into the program details if you want to get ripped.
4. EVERYTHING ELSE
The majority of the fitness industry’s focus, and most of the stuff being sold to you (miracle supplements, magical detox plans, etc.), are “extras” at best, and probably account for less than 5% of real world results. And most of this stuff just makes you “feel” like you are doing something good for yourself, even though you are not. The best way to detox is to stop eating crap. The best ab exercise is to throw away your sugar and refined vegetable oil, etc.
I don’t know if these are magic pills, but regardless, they don’t look as tasty as a steak.
Alas, I wish I had something more new, flashy, innovative, and cool to tell you, but in this real life battle against body fat and poor biomarkers of health, only the best weapons will do. And the best weapon I know is the tough love truth.
Fat Loss Simplified
Here is the best and most honest fat loss/health enhancement advice I could ever give you:
Upping your # of glasses of water per day is good advice, BUT YOU STILL NEED TO STOP EATING SHIT.
Maybe you do need more Vitamin C or calcium or whatever, BUT YOU STILL NEED TO STOP EATING SHIT.
Perhaps you actually do need a prescription for something, BUT YOU STILL NEED TO STOP EATING SHIT.
Definitely increase your fish oil/Omega 3′s, BUT YOU STILL NEED TO STOP EATING SHIT.
You can shake your weight (or anything else) until it breaks, BUT YOU STILL NEED TO STOP EATING SHIT.
Going gluten free is a great step, BUT YOU STILL NEED TO STOP EATING SHIT.
Maybe that fat burning pill actually works, BUT YOU STILL NEED TO STOP EATING SHIT.
Yes, smuggle me in some exotic herbs from the mountains, BUT YOU STILL NEED TO STOP EATING SHIT.
Sure organic foods are better than factory produced foods, BUT YOU STILL NEED TO STOP EATING SHIT.
Green tea is awesome, BUT YOU STILL NEED TO STOP EATING SHIT.
Maybe that 100 calorie snack is better than the 500 cal version. BUT YOU STILL NEED TO STOP EATING SHIT.
Maybe that miracle detox cleanse isn’t total bullshit, BUT YOU STILL NEED TO STOP EATING SHIT.
Maybe polyphenols and other miracle nutrients are cool, BUT YOU STILL NEED TO STOP EATING SHIT.
Correcting any hormonal imbalances will help, BUT YOU STILL NEED TO STOP EATING SHIT.
Avoiding carbs like the plague may be part of the answer, BUT YOU STILL NEED TO STOP EATING SHIT.
Maybe your genetics suck, maybe they are awesome, BUT YOU STILL NEED TO STOP EATING SHIT.
Increasing your fiber rocks (actually it softens), BUT YOU STILL NEED TO STOP EATING SHIT.
Maybe 3.8g of BCAA’s before your workout will give you an edge, BUT YOU STILL NEED TO STOP EATING SHIT.
A real or fake tan is a good illusion, BUT YOU STILL NEED TO STOP EATING SHIT.
You can buy an infomercial slimming shirt or dress, BUT YOU STILL NEED TO STOP EATING SHIT.
Boob jobs, stomach surgeries, and liposuction may change your appearance, BUT YOU STILL NEED TO STOP EATING SHIT.
Even if magic pills did exist, YOU WOULD STILL NEED TO STOP EATING SHIT!
Except once a week of course. Then eat some SHIT during a cheat feast at night to make your plan more realistic, functional, and sustainable. *Warning: if you see me coming down the block on a feast night, hide your pets and small children.
Listen up man (or girl)
1. You can keep getting information overloaded regarding the details that produces less than 10% of real world results, or you can focus on the one, simple step that produces 90% of results.
2. You can focus on all the crap and miracle cures and easier ways that are being sold to you, or you can focus on the one free step that is guaranteed to produce results.
3. You can keep reading health blurbs for entertainment purposes or to make you “feel” like you are doing something good for your health and fat loss goals, or you can actually get out there and DO something about them.
4. You can keep spinning your wheels with fluff, or you can toughen up and get some shit done with the cold, hard TRUTH.
My goal was not to offend anyone with this post (if I did, I’m sorry), my goal was to actually help you.
My name is Nate Miyaki, and I approved this message. You can share it with anyone you like.
The Fat Loss Consultant is Here
I’m proud to announce that my next project, The Fat Loss Consultant, is now available!
It was a lot of work putting this project together, and there were even more hurdles getting it up and live, but with the help of some good friends, it is finally here. I don’t want to call it the first — although its the first that I know of — so I’ll call it the most comprehensive nutrition product specifically written for busy professionals that need help losing fat and improving their health.
That’s right, most of the fitness nutrition content out there may look good in the glossy pages of a magazine, but is impractical to follow or unsustainable for the long-term given the career demands and hectic schedule of a busy professional. We’re hoping this new project provides the practical solutions necessary to solve that specific problem.
So get on over and check it out! thefatlossconsultant.com
Jiro Dreams of Sushi: How an 85-Year-Old Chef Made Me Want to Be a Better Athlete, Writer, & Coach
I’m normally a big budget, guns blazing, blockbuster, Hollywood action guy or a laugh your a$$ off, ridiculousness, Will Ferrell is the greatest of all-time/can’t wait for Anchorman II, dumb comedy guy.
This past weekend, however, I saw an independent documentary film about Jiro Ono, a legendary sushi chef in Japan. The film explored his business, his daily routine, his work as a teacher, and his life, all of which are intertwined into one big devotion to a craft, to never settling for anything less than following your passion.
Before I lose you, don’t let the title mislead you. I’m not writing about this move because of the sushi. I’m writing about it because there are valuable lessons we can all learn from Jiro himself, regardless of our profession or chosen path in life.
DO YOU LOVE WHAT YOU DO?
