Better Than Steroids by Dr. Warren Wiley was a very interesting read on many levels. The book is all about how to eat if you want a bodybuilder's physique. That's the meat of the book–how to use food in the way some people use steroids.
Ketogenic Dieting
Dr. Willey recommends a Ketogenic Diet for fat loss and lean mass building. This involves high fat, moderate protein and very low carb eating. The idea is to keep carbs under 30 grams a day in order for the body to enter a state of ketosis. The idea is that the body starts to utilize fat more for energy when in this state. This means that you will soon lose more fat when using this approach to eating.
At the same time, the higher fat content will increase testosterone production, which will help you with building lean muscle mass.
Training Principles
The training principles presented in the book are nothing new. Dr. Willey advocates the standard high volume weight training approach that is advocated by most body building types. It really offered nothing new to me, but if you are not well-versed in the various ways to train I am sure you will get something out of this section.
Cardio Training Approach
Dr. Willey advocates the HIIT method of training for cardio. This is one of the most successful methods of cardio training out there right now. It can result in some amazingly quick fat loss in a short period of time. Dr. Willey makes the point that combining HIIT with the keto approach to nutrition you are going to really blast your body into fat loss mania. I personally don't think much of the keto approach because I find that it takes away strength I need for intense training sessions. However, I cannot argue with the success many have achieved using the keto approach. However, the HIIT recommendation is something I agree with 100%.
Water is Important
Dr. Willey spends an entire chapter on the importance of water. He explains why water is so important. He then gives some recommendations for the amount of water you should take in (0.75 x your weight in pounds). Again, the premise is that it is better to give your body the right food and the right amount of water than it is to take steroids.
Conclusion
I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a fresh look at how to get into shape. The information presented on nutrition is excellent. Yes, he spends alot of time on keto, but also talks about zig zagging and other methods of eating. You will learn alot from this book. I give it a thumbs up. If you have read this book, give us a comment.
