Why Evolutionary Fitness?
Evolutionary Fitness is a play on words. It means, in the science, reproductive capacity of an organism or animal. But, it is also a play on the concepts of evolution and fitness, combining them in a new way to show a model of fitness and health that is consistent with how we humans evolved.
What were the biggest challenges you face in promoting this new - old way of fitness?
No challenges since I really have not promoted it. I present my ideas, arguments and evidence and then others evaluate them and make their own decision. I never try to convince others. That was a challenge, not to be a promoter but a scientist and creator of a new model.
Activity tends to be under-rated. Why do you think this is?
One reason is that it is claimed to be self-defeating in the typical energy balance approach of calories in and out. It is said that you will just eat more if you are more active and will not lose weight. But, that model is wrong. You are active, in my mind and in my book, because evolution programmed that as a necessary part of health and survival. I exercise to alter my hormones and gene expression, not to lose weight. We are active genotypes and activity alters metabolic pathways and gene expression to produce the health that is our evolutionary legacy.
What did you want to be when growing up? Any regrets?
No regrets. You cannot have regrets when you realize you cannot make anything happen. The world is random and ever-changing and we must adapt or perish or waste away.
What inspires you?
The centality of evolutionary thinking in just about everything is awe insipiring. The quest for knowledge inspires me. Science inspires me. My children and wife inspire me. The Egyptian people inspire me.
What are you reading at the moment and what inspired you to do so?
I read so much it is hard to choose. I am rereading Mel Greaves, Cancer: The Evolutionary Legacy and Christian de Duve's Vital Dust. I think James Le Fanu's The Rise and Fall of Modern Medicine is one of the finest books.
What is your favourite holiday destination? Why?
I don't have one, but we like the Boardwalk at Atlantic City, my wife is from there. We just bought a condo there right on the boardwalk. I will soon be seen rollerblading there.
If you could turn back the clock what era would you most like to visit?
Interesting. I can't, but I like to imagine life about 40,000 BC. I do plan a motorcyling trip to Africa, way down back dirt roads through the Rift Valley, the birthplace of humans.
If you could have any super-power what would it be?
There are no superpowers. If I could free my imagination even more, maybe I could come close.
Evolutionary Fitness has gained momentum of late, is the world now ready?
I think it is ready. This is the age of the genome after all and my book The New Evolution Diet, which is my popular and more readable expression of Evolutionary Fitness is my attempt at reflecting genomic research and what it says about how to live and be healthy.
What has been your biggest U-turn since you encountered Evolutionary Fitness?
Getting rid of all the sports science and diet recommendations that abound. I HAD to do it because the advice doctors gave us to deal with the type 1 diabetes both my son and wife developed was not working. It was wrong 25 years ago, is still wrong, but the best research is finally changing this, at last.
What has been your most surreal experience?
There are no surreal experiences, only real experiences that a person's memory and preferences gets a bit wrong and turns into something surreal.
What do you believe is the best way to promote IGF production? Sprinting, heavy lifting or quality sleep?
IGF is produced systemically in the liver and circulates through the blood stream from there. It has beneficial and harmful effects. IGF is also produced in muscle fibers, for growth and repair in response to activity. That is where I get most of my IGF. Since muscle damage is the trigger, weight lifting is the best way to produce IGF. Sprinting is close, because the eccentric load from sprinting damages muscle.
What do you think of the term "compression of morbidity"?
I have compressed my morbidity, I think. I am trying to extend healthy years, not length of life. Hunter gatherers who live to long age, because they avoid the high mortality of infancy and grow wise enough not to be eaten, killed by a fellow human, or avoid infection live well until they just sit or lie down to die, usually in their 80s. That is the way to go.
What principle of life has taken you the longest time to understand?
That you can barely control yourself; surely not outcomes. You only control the choices you make, not the outcomes. Then life rolls the dice and the dice are wild, not the tame dice we know.
What is usually the hardest obstacle to overcome for those new to EF?
They think they have to make it happen. They have to let go and let it happen.