[00:00:01] Chad: Now on this episode of “In The RACK” podcast.
[00:00:04] Ali Gilbert: Now that range has since dropped to the lowest that I've seen is like 187. So you can be a 25 year old man with 190 level testosterone be told, “You're normal”. And that's why we don't go through insurance because insurance will not accept you as qualified for.
[00:00:30] PODCAST INTRO: Welcome to “In The RACK” podcast, where we provide you with the practical framework for breaking PRs in all facets of health and wellness. We are just a couple of bros giving you the simple house in a world of complex wants. No filters, no scripts, no rules, just straight talk, talk tune. Now, let's get into the rack with your hosts, Dr. Chad and Dr. Nick.
[00:00:55] Chad: It’s a great podcast episode for you today. I was live just this past weekend at the “PerForm Better Summit” in Providence, Rhode Island with Ali Gilbert. What you're about to hear in today's episode of “In The RACK” podcast contains explicit language and straight real talk between Ali and Chad, and may not be suitable for all listeners. You have been warned. Now, let's get into the rack with Ali Gilbert. Alright, everyone. Welcome to another episode of “In The RACK” podcast. I am your host, Chad. And with me, I have a special guest. It is Ali Gilbert, and we're hanging out in the “PerForm Better Summit” which is in Providence, Rhode Island. I've been talking to Ali about getting her on the podcast for a little while. And I’m not a huge zoom fan in terms of really anything. But I was like, “Do we get to do this thing live and Providence is right down the road from me and you're going to be up so I say let's do it”. So we're in the lobby of performed better right now. And everybody's in class and we're not. So we're going to have a good old conversation here. I first got introduced with Ali in January or February?
[00:02:03] Ali Gilbert: February.
[00:02:04] Chad: February, was at a conference called “Coached” that was put on by Nick Lamb, and that was in Orlando. And she did a whole talk on the testosterone epidemic. And it was a very interesting, I think it was the most interesting talk there. And it gravitated towards me for many reasons, which we'll talk about in today's podcasts. But I remember when I got there, I'd met a colleague of mine, and we were like going out for lunch. It was day, the morning that you were gonna speak. I think you spoke in the afternoon.
[00:02:37] Ali Gilbert: I don't remember.
[00:02:38] Chad: And we walked out and you were there in a pink dress you’re jacked up pink jeep. And my colleague was like, “Oh, that's Ali Gilbert”. And I'm like, “Who the hell she is” and I was like, “That chick is badass”. So I was walking by and I was like, “She's got the faux hawk on”. I was like, this is great. So come to find out, you did that whole talk on the testosterone epidemic. And I'm like, “Damn, this is crazy. This is wild”. So I was like, “I have to meet this person”. And as I'm sitting there with one of my colleagues, Nick and actually another instructor that we had, she owns a bar studio down the road from us, she actually came down with us. And I was like, “I'm just gonna go up to her and see if she'll coach me because I could use this”. I feel like she's gonna keep me accountable. She's more yoked than I am. So I was like, “I got to talk to her”. So we kind of talked and I would say that the one thing that gravitated mainly towards me is not only the whole epidemic about testosterone, which I know we'll get into, but I got a family history of prostate cancer. And for me the year that I was like, I'm gonna take control of my health because I hadn't been to a PCP in seven, eight years, probably. And my wife's been on me about doing it. So I was like, “I'm gonna go do it”. Went there, super disappointed, we'll call it disappointed with how I was treated in the medical system and everything that Ali was saying in her presentation was everything that I had researched, which was also contraindicated about everything that my doctor was telling me. So I'm happy to that's it. I gotta get a different team here. So that was really the main reason why I approached Ali and Ali is, “She is the queen of mental health”. I think that's your that's your title for sure.
[00:04:27] Ali Gilbert: Not self-proclaimed. Somebody did dubbed me that.
[00:04:31] Chad: Whether it is or it isn't, it's probably true. But she's also a coach. She's a trainer, and she's well educated in male hormone optimization. So that was the main thing that kind of drew me into her. And I know a lot of people are even my current patients and clients are like, “Dude, you have a coach?” I'm like, “I have coach”. I was like, “How hypocritical would I be if I wasn't telling you to do something and my coach is telling me to do something don’t do it?” So I believe, and I know you've said this before, but I believe every good coach should have their own coach. It does take the bias out of the training for sure. And I know that Ali definitely prescribes me exercises that I would never prescribe myself. Because I hate them, some of them, most of them. But I always tell this to my patients and clients too. I'm like, “The ones you hate the most are probably the ones that are best for you”. And that's my philosophy anyways. Ali, why don't you tell us a little bit about yourself since I'm kind of rambling here?
[00:05:37] Ali Gilbert: So you're gonna say that you're so drawn to me because of my entertaining personality, and I'm just incredibly funny which I think I’m.
[00:05:45] Chad: Well, you were and I think the faux hawk totally drew me in there too. I was like, we already had this commonality. I was like, I have to meet this person. Not many times you can meet a person that also has a sweet dude.
[00:06:02] Ali Gilbert: I think we discussed hair products too.
[00:06:04] Chad: We totally do. What do you use? What do I use? What do you use?
[00:06:08] Ali Gilbert: Johnny slicks. So it's funny because everyone then always is like, “How do you go to men's health as a fitness professional and a female at that?” And it was from golf fitness. So basically started specializing in golf fitness in like 2008 went through all three TPI levels, and my entire clientele was men. So I soon realized just as you acknowledged, men do not go to the doctor ever. And all the conversations were about trying to optimize their hormones, but they're taking like random supplements that they heard about on the internet, or just like saw a Vitamin Shop or something like test boosters. And I was like, “That shit works”. So someone has to handle this. And being a female, it was a female acknowledging that you may experience certain male issues that are very, very common, but might not be normal at any age. And I'm also not their wife, and I'm not a family member pushing them because we all know that whether it's your spouse or somebody that you're related to, or whoever, they will not listen to you when it comes to some sort of coaching. That's why like my husband, I have him work with somebody else, because I will not go there.
[00:07:25] Chad: Totally. I do the same thing. I don't cheat my family. You just can't do it. You have to take the bias out for sure.
[00:07:30] Ali Gilbert: Exactly. So I was like, “This is a cool niche that I don't think anybody really has”. So I learned everything I could about men's hormones. And that's kind of how I landed in the testosterone replacement, area of the fitness world.
[00:07:47] Chad: I love it. And I will say that, it's funny that you say all those natural supplements that don't work, but I will say when I first got into working out this is back in my high school days, and that was in 1999.
[00:08:02] Ali Gilbert: That’s when I graduated, 10 years back.
[00:08:05] Chad: That was back when I first started getting into fitness. And I was like, poppin hydroxy cut to lose weight. It worked. It did. That doesn't work anymore, unfortunately. And you had like everything pretty much that was in the plastic case behind the counter works. Nowadays it doesn't. But it's kind of funny, because I was like, the fat pudgy kid growing up. And I was like, “That's it. I'm taking control of this”. I didn't get into working out until I was my junior year in high school. Like, I didn't get serious into it until I was like my freshman year in college.
[00:08:44] Ali Gilbert: I wouldn't pick you as a chubby kid.
[00:08:45] Chad: I know, I was. So I was like, I gotta do it. So I probably took it a little too far. I went a little wild. And I think I went from 180 pounds, 150 pounds in three months at age 16, which is probably not super healthy. Looking back on it now. But that was kind of like what drew me into there and kind of what drew me into health and fitness, if you will. But I appreciate the fact that you're very honest, you're very truthful. Like, you're pretty much say it straight and that was what kind of drew me to you in that conversation that we had not only after the talk, but also during the talk calling men out. And it's funny because my wife is a pelvic health rehab specialist. She does women's PT. And after talking to her I'm like I’ like “Man, women are no better. They are just as bad”. And it's funny that a lot of the stuff that you talk about goes it's like people are very silent about this stuff. Like they don't talk about it, especially the guys. And you have to hear it from the wives but I don't hear about my wife hears about all the time like, there's so many women out there that haven't been sexually active in years. Whose fault is I don't know. So it's like, how many more of these men are dealing with these issues, but they're just not saying anything? Because it's like a sign of weakness or whatever it may be.
[00:10:18] Ali Gilbert: So many. Like, a lot of my conversations happened in the DMs because of this sensitivity. But there are guys that will comment a lot of my posts and everything, and then come up to me after talks and stuff. Especially the younger kids, because you would think like, if I have some sort of erectile dysfunction, or like premature ejaculation, or even low sex drive, and I'm 27 years old, I must have something wrong with me. And that's what they think. And it's really not something's wrong with them per se, it's more that this is a very common problem happening at a younger age, because guys are showing up with lower and lower testosterone levels for various number of reasons. Some of that being lifestyle, our society, all this stuff. And then they're petrified to try to change any of that, because now there's this movement to try to eradicate masculinity from Earth, which I'm very opposed to. And when I bring that talks, I think the young kids are like, she's gonna go on a rampage about toxic masculinity. And I'm more like, “I hate that term”. And they're like, I do hate that term, because it's stupid. And I think people can be toxic, it doesn't have to mean man men. And so any characteristic or trait that is considered more male being assertive and aggressive, and alpha tends to be looked at as a negative thing. So guys are kind of lost as to what their role in society is as women have become more independent. And then this other movement on top of that, so they become paralyzed as to what do I do next? Do I investigate this problem? Do I just live with it? Do I not say anything? And they're not going to talk about it in the locker room at the gym because that's not what they do. Women will talk about stuff like that. Men do not as you know you’re a man.
[00:12:07] Chad: Absolutely true.
[00:12:08] Ali Gilbert: So talking to guys about this, all they tell me is thank you for bringing this up. Thank you for making me not feel like I'm alone in dealing with this. This is something I've been dealing with forever and forever for someone in their 20s this since they're like 2021. But if you think about it, kids are home playing video games, they're isolated, they have social anxiety and stuff like that. Of course, they're going to be scared to talk about this with anybody. So it is not very normal but it is very common. And it is sensitive. And it is something that I told, there is nothing that is TMI in my world. As you said that right off the bat, very direct, very crass, I don't know, any other way to be besides unfiltered. So it could be offensive to some people, but people who are not offended, they gravitate toward me and it's cool. I can talk to you and not worry about using certain words that might be offensive or whatever like, you're just chat.
[00:13:07] Chad: I say like, we've set it back and forth. It's like, you're my bro. You're like, “I got you, bro”. And I'm like, “You're right, you do”. I feel like I can have that. That conversation, that relationship with you where it's like, you're just another one of the guys that I can just have that conversation with. But do you feel that more guys open up to you because you have that presence but you're also female?
[00:13:30] Ali Gilbert: I think so. Because when I first started specializing, I don't know what the word is, but people would be like, our guys are afraid to talk to you because you're a woman. And I was like, “No”. So I haven't done any resistance yet. And I didn't look at it that way. Because I think of myself as one of the guys. It's funny because I've always gotten along with guys more, I think growing up as a tomboy, and just being athletic and stuff like that. So thank God, my husband totally understands it. Because it's all I'm doing is talking to dudes all day, about very sexual topics often and all that stuff. But I think they do feel comfortable because I can defuse the awkward part of that. And it's not an ego thing when they're talking to another guy about it. A lot of them feel embarrassed when they go to the doctor and the doctor may bring it up or will dismiss it and say, you don't have low tea, you're depressed. And then it just breaks them down even further. But you're not going to bring it up again, if somebody dismisses it. So I think that in my direct nature makes them I guess, more open. That's all they say. I'm here to talk to you.
[00:14:45] Chad: I don't know, I would say, that's their words. I think you are. It's obviously this conversation is gonna be super easy. So I want to talk a little bit more about your presentation in Florida that I that I had the privilege of watching because I ended up writing an article a few months after that, because it hit me like pretty home close to home in terms of the trend with testosterone. And there was one picture that you put up there, which I was ended up, I found it. And I put it on my article, and it scared one of my patients so shitless, that he actually ended up contacting you, and now he's your client. But it's pretty real when you look at it. And now all I can think about is all these high school kids that come in and see me and I'm like, “Damn, there's another one”.
[00:15:33] Ali Gilbert: The evolution of what the physique look like
[00:15:36] Chad: In 2040 it is going to be the turning, men are turning more and more and more into like female, if you will in terms of their physique, for sure. And the lab values are showing that too. And I think it was very interesting and eye opening for me too. Because I didn't know lab values really, really well. It was never really educated on it. And when you had gone over that, and it feels like as we adapt and evolve the society, these testing centers are doing the same thing. And I'm sure there's some financial gain there so that these insurance don't have to reimburse for TRT, whatever it may be. But I feel part of that too is like, we just want people to feel normal. So we're just going to slide the scale just slightly over so that most people can fit there. And it's funny, I had a client not too long ago, and he actually is getting his lab values done. And his testosterone was like, he said, it was just over 300. And I'm like, that's still on the lower side. I was like, what your doctrine is like, “Oh, he's gonna retest it in a few more weeks”. I'm like, “Well, maybe we should try and look at this. Let's get tested again, let's just see”. But I think you and I need to talk going further. He's a little overweight for sure. So I know that there's things that he could do that could help him. But I also think that, if it was 10, 15 years ago, he'd be low. So it's funny that we can be low now and it's okay. But 10, 15 years ago, it was not. And that was pretty eye opening for me. And it's like trying to compare yourself to your father, your grandfather, things are different. And I can see it, and the new generations that are coming through. And that was huge for me to see that.
[00:17:31] Ali Gilbert: It usually scares a lot.
[00:17:33] Chad: It's super scary when you think about it, because now I see it. I'm just like, that kids definitely going to have some issues. Like when they come through, because they're just lining up and looking exactly like the picture. And I'm like, “Damn, that's scary”.
[00:17:45] Ali Gilbert: They have female fat storage patterns that they never had before even their attitudes. It stems from childhood where now a lot of kids get enrolled in martial arts, which I think's fantastic. But then at the same time, we're telling young boys not to fight. And granted a lot of bullying nowadays takes place on the internet, not so much on the playground, when we grow up, but it has to do also with the chemicals in the environment and stuff like that. So it's almost like to say that it's a losing war, the rest of your life is true. And it sounds a little bit Cavalier. But I have always said, and I quoted myself on my last talk, put it on a slide, which probably looks weird, but I'm like, I know, it's weird to quote yourself, but my opinion is “Most men will and should end up on testosterone replacement when they get older”. It just is attached to so many social stigmas and all these taboo things that it's something they can't wrap their head around quite yet, but it's really just replacing what your body should biologically be producing. And this is happening, like I said earlier and earlier ages, because the way kids are developed through being in the womb, and after. And it has a lot to do with the chemicals that the mother is exposed to whether she tries to avoid it or not something called, which causes like, you can be a pregnant woman and affecting the sperm in your child when he's an adult, which seems like far-fetched and really stupid and woo-woo. But there is something to be said for that. Now, if you take a kid and raise him in a way where he's active and put them through sports and stuff like that, his chances of suffering consequences from that are a little bit less. But it is crazy to think what the future physique of a child looks like. And you start to see that in adults in America as well, just with how unhealthy and out of shape our society is. And I even said, like our society is so out of shape that anybody who does have visible muscle. People are like, “They're on steroids”. And I'm like, “Are you kidding me?” Like, we're watching the Abercrombie documentary.
[00:20:04] Chad: I just saw that the other day.
[00:20:06] Ali Gilbert: So you're gonna know exactly talking about. The models when we were in high school, and our mothers could not stand the smell of the perfume and Abercrombie and the loud music. So the models would be considered completely shredded and jacked nowadays. And I was just like, that was the most biggest thing that stuck out to me watching that. And I was like, Are you kidding me? And now it's like it. You see anybody like that? I'm sure you just like me. Do you compete? Do you do CrossFit? Like, you have to be training for something because you can't just look like?
[00:20:39] Chad: That's right. Why would you do that? It makes no sense. It's funny, because this brings up two months ago, I think I hit you up, I was in a water park with my kids. And I almost felt insecure to take my shirt Off. I remember that's so fucked up. I'm like sitting there. And I'm like, “Man, everybody else around me is just so not in good shape”. And I'm like, “I just don't want to be that guy right now”. But whatever, you know what I mean. So I don't want my kids to I want my kids to see it. Because I want them to notice that that's weird. Why is dad in so much better shape than 90% of the dudes in this pool? Like, that's not cool. But it does, it brings another level of insecurity for the people that are actually taking care of themselves in that whole, Dad Bod thing is kind of getting overused and you were like, “How many people came up to you?” And like, I used to look like before I had kids. And I'm like, “I've got three kids. They're actually right up there. I don't know what your excuses”. And I run a business. So it's really just prioritizing and making the time. But we get trapped into making up excuses and us just making it feel better for us to think that. That's just like okay, we're just convincing ourselves that's just what it is.
[00:22:01] Ali Gilbert: You see that a lot. And now granted, not everyone wants to look like you and I want to look which is totally fine. But even to look a level or a few below, still requires a certain level of discipline, and prioritization and not saying certain excuses. A lot of people will realize, I have kids. That's my reason. That's not my excuse. So they'll channel their energy toward that, but it is weird to be the outlier in any public environment when it used to not be like that in the 80s.
[00:22:31] Chad: That’s so funny. Because my wife will say, whenever we're out like that, my wife is like, I just like to walk behind you and just watch everybody just like stare. And she goes, “You know who it is Chad?” And I'm like, who she goes, it's the guys. Girls could give a shit. I'm like, sucks. It's kind of why I'm doing this now. I’m just kidding. But it's kind of funny when she says that, and I'm like, it’s funny how you notice that? I don't notice it. But she notices it because it's on her radar, she just gets a kick out of it.
[00:23:03] Ali Gilbert: I said like, “Are most of the guys coming up to you because that's usually what happens?”
[00:23:08] Chad: Every time, every single time but it really does, I don't know. Anytime I go anywhere, actually, when I was at the conference there in in Florida. Do you know Andrew Coates?
[00:23:21] Ali Gilbert: Yes.
[00:23:22] Chad: He came up to me. He's like, I just gotta shake your hand, man. I'm like, “Cool”. Like, why? What did I do? You're like, the biggest guy in the room right now. I'm like, “Well, you're bigger than I am”. But that's cool. And he goes nice. He's like, “But I bet you everybody does that everywhere you go”. I was like, “Dude, every conference that I go to, I get picked out somewhere”. Somebody picks me out of the audience. And I'm like, “Whatever, I'm just used to it”. But it's something that I've had to learn to deal with. And I've always been the shy person until I had to not be, so I've gotten used to being uncomfortable, or uncomfortable or comfortable being in uncomfortable positions. So that's kind of forced me to say, I don't really care. I just do it. Like everybody just likes to poke fun. I'm like, the poke fun guy. Because I can take it I got some pretty thick skin.
[00:24:12] Ali Gilbert: You have to because that's what our clients deal with the peer pressure, the social comments, even hear people make fun of me, like for not drinking or are you searching out protein and stuff like that? I totally get it, it's totally fine. But also, you have to realize too when someone sees somebody with muscle, that is automatic respect. So you automatically think that is discipline. That's hard work. Like, you acknowledge it, at least I do that.
[00:24:40] Chad: Totally. Kind of going back on to what you were saying about the discipline. And I know we've had this conversation many times where it's like I have a certain avatar certain clientele that likes to see me for whether it's training or PT. I just gravitate towards that person. And that's fine. But they all come in. They're like, “I just want to look like you”. And I'm like, “That's cool. You can do that. But it all depends on how far you want to take it”. Because this is what I do Monday through Sunday. So if you're willing to do that, then you can do it too. I don't think many people realize what's actually involved. Like you were saying, I don't drink. I brought two meals with me today. I just ate a meal not too long ago, and I'm taking my Tupperware out, because that's what I do. And I'm the weird guy, while everybody's ordering burgers and fries. So that's cool. Like, but don't complain to me that you don't look the way you don't want to look. So it just all depends on how far you want to take it. And I think it's a level of respect, because the people that can understand only the people that have been there, or are there or understand what it takes to get there can respect the process.
[00:25:50] Ali Gilbert: 1000%. And that's why in my intake form, you saw I asked, “What is the photos, someone you want to look like?” Because that gives me more of an understanding because someone like you've you say I want to be shredded. I know what that means. If somebody else says I want to be shredded, that could mean they just want to see two abs. But in my mind, I'm thinking what you and I think of as shredded. So I'm like, “Oh my God, the commitment for this is going to be enormous”. Where if somebody just wants to see a couple abs show that's a lot easier in quotations than it would be to be what I call dick skin layup. So big difference.
[00:26:27] Chad: It's not easy. And I'm going to be honest, it's kind of weird at first when you get to that level, because I'm finally there. It took me a little while. I tried it a couple years ago, but I didn't really have somebody like you pushing me to get there. But I sent you that video not too long ago. And I'm like, “This is so weird, what the hell”. I show my wife the text because I showed her the video that I sent you. And you're like, I see dick skin. And my wife just started laughing.
[00:26:58] Ali Gilbert: Because I was like, If anyone ever saw this text out of context, they'd be like, what is going on here? But it's like hilarious, because it's like, I totally see as veins. People get excited about veins. Like this underground understanding of you totally get it. But it is weird. And now that you have gotten there, and you're starting to get there, you're just like, “Oh my God, this is completely different”. And I think the difference too, is like the same thing, because I've had a coach for five years, where as soon as we start to get there, and then maybe something happens where we stall or something we don't like happens. We make a knee jerk reaction decision, and then backpedal and then do something stupid. Whereas having a coach allows you to kind of stay the course or talk you off the ledge, or yell at you or just be like, “Nope, just keep going. It's gonna happen”. Which I think is huge. Because I don't know, I can't do my own decisions.
[00:27:52] Chad: I can't either. And that's the main reason why I want you as a coach, because it's like, I don't want to have to plan out what I'm eating in terms of my macros, I don't want to have to think about what I'm going to be, , working out each week, I was like, you don't even design your own programs. I was like, I used to, honestly, do I have the time. But I don't want to do it anymore. I'm so busy with everything else. Like, it really does take time. I'm just like, I don't want to have to think about it. I just want it to be there. And this is what I'm doing this day, this is what I'm doing tomorrow. I know, it's already set out and then it changes every four to six weeks or whatever. And then I know I'm ready for the next phase or whatever it may be or you're like, “Hey, so what's your goal for the next phase here”? And I'm like, keep getting leaner. Alright, let's do it. And it's so funny, because everybody's just like, what do you got to be more lean for? You're already pretty lean. I'm like, “Listen, it's a challenge for me”. When somebody's preparing for, like soccer or for like a sport, like nobody says, why are you doing that? I want to get to it and my sport is becoming lean. It's working out. Like your sport, maybe soccer or basketball. So it's different, but it's the same when you're looking at it.
[00:29:02] Ali Gilbert: I like that analogy, because it's like, I'm old. I can't really fit. Because I played soccer in college, I would like to get back to it. And I said to my coach, can I play? And he's like, what do you want to look like? And I was like, because I risk getting hurt. And God forbid, if that happens, and I can't train then can't really look like the way I want. But I'd rather look a certain way and pack on a lot of muscle.
[00:29:29] Chad: And that's my goal. So I think that's the fun part about it. Like, I don't care to play a sport right now. I'm fine with that. I already did that. Now I'm on to the next phase. And like you said, I feel I can manage my injuries better this way. I'm not at risk for hurting mom, you always gonna be at risk of hurting yourself. But I've got three kids at home like, I have this much time to work out during the day. I don't have time to play weekend tournaments and all that other stuff. So it's like, it's a passion, it has to be a passion for you to want to take it to that level for sure.
[00:30:05] Ali Gilbert: And professionally to look the part help. People who say it doesn't, but it does.
[00:30:09] Chad: It totally does. And for anybody that says they're not coming to me, because I look like I work out is a liar.
[00:30:17] Ali Gilbert: Dude, I back that up 1,000%.
[00:30:20] Chad: I say this, and it's not like I say it to be mean. But I have some PT colleagues that are not in the greatest shape. That's their choice. But don't tell somebody to do something. And then you don't do it yourself. Like, that's one thing I can tell my clients in my patient be like, “Listen, this is how much protein you have to take, this is what you have to do for training, this is what I want you to do”. And I wouldn't tell you to do anything. And I don't already do myself. So it's like, how can I hold you accountable if I can't even be accountable to myself? So I think that's the reason why I feel I get as good a results I do with my patients and clients because they know what they see it. They see me eating during the day, if they're just like hanging out, they're doing exercises, I'll just be sitting there eating out of my food, or what's on the menu for today? I'm like the same as the other day saying, that's what I do.
[00:31:11] Ali Gilbert: The same shit. And I totally respect that to it. I think I was gonna make a really good comment and now I forgot. That's what were we talking about? We're talking about looking the part, I'll think of it again. It totally escaped.
[00:31:30] Chad: Well, on that topic of conversation, do you think that people take you more seriously because of your physique?
[00:31:38] Ali Gilbert: Now I remember us and say, I think because the meathead that I am most. I would say, we could probably make a good blanket statement, most women want to look really lean and toned, I guess would be the term. Guys would like to look like me more so than women. And I'm not saying that in any other grand dicing statement other than the way I want to look in the way I present myself as wanting to add muscle and get bigger. And I'm like jealous of your biceps so versus like some checks. So I think that attitude and the dedication, at least, this is what they've said to me. This is not me being presumptuous, this is what they said, I want your abs or I want to train like you do. Or they'll see me post the lift and be like, I can't deadlift what you do. So I want to do that. And I'm like, “Cool, because I love the process of”. Recently I gained 11 pounds, got a shit ton stronger. And now I'm cutting again, that whole cycle of being able to add muscle, adds strength, and then you can lean out. And that only happens when you allow yourself to gain weight and then cut down again. So I think that people see that I take myself through that process with a coach. So they trust that I can actually do that with them. Because I believe in the product of coaching, like you said, and I'm also willing to show, this is me gaining weight, this is me leaning out, I never used to do that I used to be very, very insecure about showing pictures of me gaining weight. And then when I came out of my photo-shoot prep in the spring, I was like, “I'm going to be very open on Instagram about this”. And I started showing as I gained weight. And then I got booted off Instagram, which is another story. But then when I came back, I was like, in my mind hefty. And I was like, so I'm filling out. And I would do all the side by side photos. And I'm like 10, 12 pounds heavier or whatever. And I was like, I'm actually having fun in the gym. And I know the weight will come off. And then I showed as I started cutting, and people pay more attention when you're cutting because you're showing more lines and stuff. But it was terrifying for me to do that. But then also hugely liberating, because you're actually being very transparent. And there's a reason that I'm gaining weight. And this is why and this is what happens. And when you focus on it, you actually don't turn into this blob, because people were like, you still have abs and you still like have shape. And I'm like, because you don't have to be a slob that's eating 6 million calories.
[00:34:13] Chad: Dirty bulking.
[00:34:13] Ali Gilbert: Because what happens is what we've all done, where most guys at least will dirty ball, and then they realize, “Shit, I'm fat”. And now they have to crash diet. So they lose any of the muscle that they put on. And then they're like, now I'm too small, and I don't have enough muscle in the areas that I want. And they don't like how they look. Well, the same thing happens to women. If you eat like an asshole and then you gain all this weight and then you're like, I'm gonna crash diet it all off then you're gonna be a smaller version of the shape you don't like. If you do it intelligently, you're just adding size in places where in clothes, you'll still look really good with your clothes off. You may not be as comfortable but you'll still actually look pretty good comparatively,
[00:34:56] Chad: The whole science behind all that is super interesting and fascinating. And I think it's a huge mind shift for a lot of people to understand that you actually have to eat to gain muscle and there are certain ways that you can eat even though you're eating just as many calories. And guess what, you will not get fat. It's huge, huge for some people, and some people just can't get over that hump. It's hard from guys and girls.
[00:35:21] Ali Gilbert: It's hard to solve. Most women think they have to eat 1200 calories. And now the number for guys because you and I think six others in the last year came to me eating like 1800. And I'm just like, why is this the man number, but whatever, it's the man number, because that's what you guys default to. Because everybody thinks if I eat less, and train more, I'll look like how I want. And so then when that comes to a halt, then we're like, we don't know what the hell to do. And so ask backwards from what we all. Think I add calories, and I take training away. And if they freak out, I remind them you came to me for a reason. This is what I do with the majority of people. So I don't really get a lot of guys who are overweight, I get guys who were I don't look like the way I want. . And they have like mismatched body comp. And so someone like yourself, you just want to take to the next level. And that still involves eating more, because you're have to get your body into a position where it feels safe to lose fat again. Because where else would you have gone sub 1000 calories that would have been miserable.
[00:36:24] Chad: And it's funny, because I did that for years on end, where I would be and that was probably hindering me for sure. Where you've had me kind of go up and then come down and then down and then up. And then it's like, I wouldn't normally do that. I would just stay consistent because you would think that would be beneficial. And it can be but I don't think it's as optimal as it could be in terms of your body reacts stiff. I'm sure everybody's body works differently, and how they respond to the re-feeds and all that other stuff. But I would have never thought that taking me to 1800 calories that I could still maintain the muscle that I have, but lose the fat without being like, I don't want to lose, because that was my biggest fear. That's why I never wanted to cut my calories because I didn't want to lose all the muscle that I gained and work so hard for over the years. But again, another mind shift that you have to get over. But that's why you have coach. Because I know better, but I won't do it. I need somebody else to do it for me that way. If it fucks up, I can be like “Ali, what the fuck?”
[00:37:36] Ali Gilbert: Because the minute that you feel fluffy, then that's when we start going downhill again. But the thing is fun. It's funny because I'm 5’3” and I don't know how much I weigh now I'm around 62 kilos. And at my leanest, I was 58 kilos last year. I'm almost just as lean, but I'm three to four kilos heavier. Like it's weird. So when I came to Luke, my coach, I was eating 1100 calories, but I lived at 1100 calories. So now if we diet, when we get into the thick of it, like three weeks out, I'm at 1100 calories, but only for like two to three weeks and then he pulls me out of it. And that's why you can go sub 2000 calories but you don't have to live there. But then you get pulled out of it. And the funny thing is people will freak the fuck out. We never disclosed how low he took me. So whoever's listening to this, you tell the whole internet whatever. But we never disclosed it. Because people would be like, that's too low, you're gonna have metabolic damage and all the stuff. And I'm like, you really not like if you don't live there and add exercise on top of that, and you do it the right way. You actually have to be uncomfortable, hungry, and feel like shit to get to the next level of leanness. So that's the difference between the living at 1100 or 1800 for months on end or actually doing it just for a short amount of time. And that's why you have to get your calories higher, because then when you start to pull calories, the fat will just come off, versus if you came to 1800. And I was like, “Well, I'm too scared to take, Chad, any higher. Because I don't want him to hate me”. So we're gonna go to 1600 calories. And then he looks smaller, and he'll really hate me.
[00:39:19] Chad: If I got to like, I don't even know what I would do. I don't even know what I would change. Like, obviously I could eat less. But I feel like I'm at rock bottom right now. I'm at 1800. I'm like, because when you brought me it was 1850. And then you're like, “We're gonna go down. It's only like 50 more calories”. And I'm like, where am I going to find 50 fucking calories? Like, I already did what I could do to get to 1850 and now I gotta drop 50 more. So I'm like, that's really not that much. But it's enough where I literally woke up and I was like, holy shit. I'm super hungry. And it was only 50 calories. It only lasts for a day or two and then it goes away but it's just getting over that I think that's the hardest thing for people to kind of get over is that like transition.
[00:40:00] Ali Gilbert: It’s huge, but because you're consistent as fuck, you felt that 50 calorie.
[00:40:06] Chad: I could feel it.
[00:40:07] Ali Gilbert: Most people wouldn't would not know the difference because 50 calories is like, two tablespoons of some sort of sauce. So they don't really track that consistently.
[00:40:14] Chad: Our response super quick to because it's like, I think it was a week and a half. And I was like, “Dude, what the hell?” Like, I can't believe like how much more I just drive. I didn't lose like a whole ton of weight. Like, maybe a pound, maybe two tops.
[00:40:28] Ali Gilbert: But for somebody of your leanness, that's a lot. So the leaner you get, the slower you want the weight loss to be.
[00:40:34] Chad: That's right. And it was just totally different than what I'm used to. And that's why I was like, even my boyfriend was like, “Chad, what the fuck” she gets so pissed off. She actually the other day, she was like, “Chad, I don't think I want you to get any more lean and I can start to see it in your face now. And I'm like, “Okay, relax”.
[00:40:49] Ali Gilbert: You're like a skeleton face. Like, everyone knows that.
[00:40:54] Chad: That’s gonna happen.
[00:40:56] Ali Gilbert: We'll be going up soon, don't worry.
[00:40:58] Chad: I’m stoked. I'm having a blast. So I want to kind of know, I could talk about this with you for hours, because we're just going to throw out about all this. But I want to get back to your testosterone talk, what kind of drove me to you, in the points that you were hitting that kind of really resonated with me? And a lot of that was based off the prostate stuff that you were talking about. And so my father had prostate cancer, his father had prostate cancer. My dad ended up having his prostate removed. My grandfather did not. So it was one of those things where I was like, “I should probably get it checked out”. And my doctor brought me through the whole thing. He's like, “Well, we don't really have to check your PSA. Because your dad was diagnosed when he was 65”. I was like, but my grandfather had it, my dad probably going to have it. And he was like, “Well, the rule is that if he was like, 5, 10 years, previous to the year that you got diagnosed, or age 50, whichever comes first. And it would have been 50”. So I'm like, “Well, I don't really know if I want to wait 10 more years, 12 more years to get that done. So could I just do it now?” He's like, “Yeah, we can run it. That's fine”. So we ran it. And I'm like, “Well, we didn't run anything else”. And I remember him. And I've told you this before, but it's the last comment that he made was, after he told me to go on a Mediterranean diet. He said, “Just make sure that whatever you do, Chad, you don't do anything that's going to increase your natural testosterone”. And I said, why so? So he said, “Well, it's going to increase your risk for prostate cancer if you already have a family history of it”. So I said, “I'm pretty sure that's not true. Because I know I looked that all up and that's not true”. And when you had gone through your talk, everything that you had said contradicted everything my PCP said, so I gotta talk to Ali about this more. So we did. And she's like, “I'm gonna coach you. We're gonna do all this”. She goes, you should get your labs check. So I ended up you use the private MD. And I ended up going through them got into like an affiliate code and all that other stuff, then end up needing it, because I ended up going through Justin through the restore clinic, which was actually recommended by you, because I had a follow up appointment with my doctor. And it was by zoom, and he didn't show up to it. I was like, “Well, that's really cool. I would like to go over my labs”. He tested me for other things that I would have liked to have known the answer for, and rescheduled it for the next week didn't show up for the second one. I said, “I'm done with the medical system. That's it”. So then I hit you up, I said, “Hey, anybody that you would recommend that I could see, that could take care of me that actually gives a shit”, and you say, “You referred me to Justin”. Well, Justin ran labs. And then he saw those labs and then ran other labs, because there were other things that needed to be addressed. So I went in thinking that I gotta get my prostate checked. This is good. My prostate comes back awesome. But he's like, “Hey, Chad looks like you probably could have a thyroid issue”. So I'm like, “Okay, cool”. So I'm not totally shocked about because my mom's got thyroid stuff, but it wasn't triggering me because I was more worried about the prostate. So he's like, “We gotta run these labs. Let's just make sure that those look good before we go any further”. So I'm like, “Alright, cool”. Well, they ended up coming back like super high. He's like, “Chad, you got Hashimotos”. I'm like, “Cool, what is that?”
[00:44:22] Ali Gilbert: It sounds cool.
[00:44:23] Chad: I only knew a little bit about it. Because when I was at that conference, Ali talked a little bit about her journey through that. So I was familiar with it a little bit. And so it's not like anything I'm worried about, but it's like, something that could have totally been addressed. That got overlooked. And I'm like, “Justin, do you think it's possible that my mom could have that too?” He's like, “Yep, probably”. He's like, but she's been treated by thyroid medication for years and probably doesn't even matter now. And I'm like, “Yep, you're probably right”. It probably doesn't. I said, but think about all the people that get misdiagnosed with things. So now I've got Justin on my team, I've got you on my team, and I feel like pretty well taken care of and I had to go outside the network, but that's fine. I'm cool with that. Like, that's what we do here at ProForm. Like, what kind of hypocrite would be if I didn't do it? So I'm cool with that. If I know I'm getting the right care, then I'm fine with paying the money for it. So I think some of that is bringing on awareness to people to say, “Hey, listen, if you don't feel like you're getting the right care, you need to find somebody that is going to give you that right care”. And Justin's in Tennessee, he's not anywhere near me. And I get more from him on a one hour zoom call than I do from all of my doctor's appointments put together so in your available pretty much anytime.
[00:45:36] Ali Gilbert: Just for you.
[00:45:37] Chad: Just for me. It'll be like nine o'clock at night getting texts from Ali, talking about me. And then I kind of want to talk to you a little bit about labs in terms of hormone optimization panels. Like, if somebody gets a panel, what should they be looking for? I know big things, especially my journey through all this, looking at free tests, sex hormone, binding globulin looking at your estradiol levels and all that other stuff. Like, what are the things that? I know there's a lot of things matter? But in terms of your experience with testosterone, what are the main things that these guys should be looking at when they're looking at their results? Like, they want to do it on their own or they have some old ones from their doctor, and the doctor totally missed something which is possible.
[00:46:32] Ali Gilbert: Very possible. So usually, going through somebody who is within your network of insurance, they're going to do very basic lab panels. And the analogy that I use is, if you've ever gone to a nightclub and ordered bottle service, then you understand that the bottle does not cost $600 at the liquor store, they can mark it up to whatever the fuck they want. So the same thing with insurance companies and lab panels, they can decide, I'm going to charge $900 for testosterone because I can. So going into your PCP and saying I want you to order all these labs is very risky, because they can say, “Sure, why not?” And then your insurance may say they'll cover it, but then at the last minute might be like, I'm gonna deny this. And most PCP doctors are not trained in hormone optimization. So they don't care. Like, I won't say the doctors don't care. But the system does not care so much about you being the best that you can be. It just cares about you not dying. So out of your head right away, I tell guys do not think about insurance covering dick, because you're just going to go outside of that for anything that requires being optimal, number one. Number two, usually, when a guy goes in for the first time to get these labs done, if he's thinking about going on TRT, you want to get LH and FSH, which are the hormones that stimulate sperm and testosterone production from the testicles. Because then you have to first determine if you are hypogonadak, or you have hypogonadism, meaning that you're low testosterone, what type of hypogonadism is it? And that is determined with those numbers in addition to total testosterone, free testosterone, and sex hormone binding globulin that you mentioned. And there's like a whole slew of other things that you can get. And again, the lab handle that you can pay out of pocket can be anywhere from like $300 to $700, depending on how comprehensive. But at least that's all you're paying. There's no surprise bill that comes in the mail. So most doctors like Justin's clinic will run the right labs to determine what the next step is. For you that included the thyroid panel, which tends to only be TSH, which is one hormone, thyroid stimulating hormone. But for you it was free T3, free T4 total T3, total T4. We can go into a whole explanation of that. But most of the time, if you're going through insurance, you're not going to get something that is that in detail. So if a guy wants to consider testosterone replacement, and he goes to a place like the restore clinic, he's gonna get the right labs. Most of the time is just very incomplete labs or they'll run just total testosterone, which is great. But again, your total testosterone could be 900. And your free testosterone could be in the toilet, and you still don't feel good. But because it's 900, they're gonna think you're fine. And that goes back to the arbitrary range that we were talking about before where back in the day used to be 350 to 1100. That's still a very wide range. But if you were 340, you were considered low take. Now that range has since dropped per LabCorp, Quest, and Buyer Reference, which are like the three main labs, they've dropped those ranges to now, the lowest that I've seen is 187. So you can be a 25 year old man with 190 level testosterone be told, “Hey, you're normal”. And that's why we don't go through insurance, because insurance will not accept you as qualified for treatment if you fall anywhere within that range. Where it's somewhere, someplace like Justin's clinic, if you are 400, and you have free T5, you're probably a candidate for testosterone replacement. It goes more by subjective measurements than the objective. Labs do mean something. But if you still feel horrible, and you need symptom resolution, and your symptom resolution occurs at a testosterone replacement level over 1000 with a free T level of in the 200, then that's what you need.
[00:50:46] Chad: And I will say that it's a pretty easy process, I'll kind of explain the process really, really quickly. In terms of going through somebody like Justin, the membership is not expensive. And the membership also includes whatever hormone he might have you on, whether it be testosterone, or he's got me on glutathione. All that other stuff will come actually the glutathione is additional. But in terms of the labs, the labs are not that expensive. I think I paid 200 bucks for a complete panel which is actually more than I paid for the deductible through my doctor with insurance. And I think I had to run an antibody test for the thyroid. And that cost me $40, so I literally pay Justin or his company, The Restore Clinic, they put the whole referral through, he uses LabCorp. I go to LabCorp bring the referral sheet. And either in five minutes, it's the quickest thing ever, it's so easy and I don't know why more people don't do that. It's just so simple. So if he's like, tells me I need something, I'm just like, “Fine, I'm just gonna go get it”. I literally can go take 20 minutes, because I know I'm gonna walk right in there and I'm just gonna get it done.
[00:51:59] Ali Gilbert: You have to find the right. First of all, he's telemedicine licensed in your state. And it's finding the right practitioner in the right person who knows. And I think that's part of the reason why people seek me out too, because I've developed a relationship with providers that actually know what the hell they're doing? Like, you can go to a lot of clinics that really don't know what they're doing. I've gotten in a lot of arguments with them. And I think I piss them off quite often with some of my podcasts and statements on Instagram. But that's part of why I spent years and I've spent 1000s in labs going through the process of all different types of doctors just to understand how they do things, and then have several practitioners based on where a person is and based on what they need. And knowing Justin specializes in thyroid. I was like, “You have to see him”.
[00:52:49] Chad: You nailed it right off that too. And he was just like, Chad, is just what it is, man. And I'm like, “That's cool”. Like, he was just as blunt to me, as you were. And that's what I appreciated out of the whole thing. I wasn't like, “Let's not do this bring a rosy thing. Just tell me what the deal is. So I can just take care of this crap”. But in terms of the lab values for say testosterone, somebody's looking at it what's an acceptable number, if you will, for nowadays on testosterone.
[00:53:18] Ali Gilbert: So, usually, it's considered if a guy is like, total 500 plus, or free T3, free testosterone around 25, 30, and 35. Like, that's where you're gonna get somebody more if they're on TRT. But if they have a free T level that is mid-range, or higher, and then their total is probably 500 or above. Usually, they feel okay. I have some guys that come in. Naturally, that have had some outliers where they're 70 years old, and they come in at like that. But whatever they did, that's great but it's also symptomatic as well. So you have these numbers. If you do anything now, you may bother something else up the chain or down the chain. So somebody might not need TRT right away. It's probably inevitable they will go on it. I've said before, but I would say if they feel good, and there's no complaints, then status quo, keep doing what you're doing, which includes all the lifestyle stuff, and the training and the nutrition because that's all stuff you're gonna have to do anyway, even if you go on tier two.
[00:54:32] Chad: I would say, a lot of this stuff, you can't even really base off symptoms in terms of especially thyroid, that was the one thing Justin feel, I'm like, I feel amazing.
[00:54:41] Ali Gilbert: You're like the opposite. Like most people that don't feel good and can't lose weight.
[00:54:47] Chad: I don't have any problems I would have never have known actually. And part of me was just like ads probably just a bad test. But then I'm like, “After I slept, that’s what it is”. It's all good. But it was kind of interesting because I would have never have gotten any testing done. Like, if I didn't want to do it like proactively. So I think that the awareness piece, even if you're feeling good, you probably should still get something done. Because you don't know what the hell's going on.
[00:55:12] Ali Gilbert: Then you get a baseline. So it's like waiting till you're thirsty to drink something, it's already too late. You're dehydrated. So that's right, get it done. See where you're at? It's a snapshot in time. It's not like your death sentence or whatever for the rest of your life. Hey, I was in 2022 and 2023. Now I was sending my testosterone plummeted and I feel like it does. At least we have something to base that off of, or what a lot of guys will do, but not necessarily say is they'll self-medicate and go on testosterone. And then they're like, “I've never done labs, and they're afraid to go to a clinic” where it’s okay. There's tons of guys that do that. You're just changing your management from yourself to an actual clinic. But a lot of guys will do that, because they get denied, or they don't know who to go to, or they don't know what to do. But they know they should be on testosterone, which is very common, but they don't talk about it because they're afraid and they think that it's bad. But that is very common. There's a lot of underground, especially in other countries too. Internationally, it is so difficult to get testosterone for so many guys that they just end up going on black market. Because that's their only choice.
[00:56:23] Chad: Well, I think that's probably good on the lab portion. Everybody got the point on that one. I only got a couple more questions for you. I think the one question that I want to bring it back towards you is like what's your favorite group or athlete or person like who's your Avatar that you'd like love to work with?
[00:56:45] Ali Gilbert: I think you can say love. I love Dana Lynn Bailey, but I can't work for her.
[00:56:49] Chad: She's pretty bad ass.
[00:56:52] Ali Gilbert: I would say because naturally it has been people have said like, I see you as somebody who has been through this cycle of trying to get to next level lean, but then have to go through a cycle of adding calories. And you've walked the walk, and then you can take me to the next level. This is what guys have told me. As well as the guy who feels lost because he knows he's low T doesn't know who to go to, and needs to dial stuff in. Many women get pegged with under eating and overtraining. And I have said, many guys do the same thing. They just don't talk about it. None of my guys, with the exception of maybe a few have come to me eating enough, especially in protein for what they're doing activity wise. So I get a lot of guys who are military or retired military or maybe reformed CrossFit athletes, or other fitness professionals, I have 13 coaches for review who were here, who are my clients as well. So I like working with like, the hard working type a like, I'm kind of lost, dude. Because that's how I feel. But as a woman, I feel like a dude. But I think that that type of demographic, I think people who want to get next level lean, but just don't know how I like that science experiment. I love that. It's not an experiment, because I've learned enough now from my coach, how to craft that and set that path. Because you have no choice and nowhere else to go. So guess what? We're in this for the long haul. This is not like a three months, we're gonna rectify everything bad you've done like you've taken ‘X’ amount of years or months to get to where you are. And I'm like, “Come hang out with me for a year because that's the minimum amount of time is gonna take”. I'm five years into this. I know took my coach at least nine months to get me to eat more. I was very, very stubborn and resistant, for sure. But I knew I had nowhere else to go. I had no other choice. I've tried everything else. So that's the long winded answer.
[00:58:57] Chad: So when you first met me, did you think I was full of shit? What do you mean? After I had that conversation, I was like, “I'm already pretty strict on my diet. And I'm pretty regimented”. You're probably like, “I've heard this a million times”.
[00:59:08] Ali Gilbert: I was like, let me see. That's also why people love food. I was like, “Alright, and you're one of the few people that I will let take a week or so” and not track because I know that you're consistent.
[00:59:20] Chad: That's one thing I’m not agree with.
[00:59:23] Ali Gilbert: But if I need the data, you're right on.
[00:59:26] Chad: That’s right. I eat the same shit every day, but it's just a copy. It's just a copy forward kind of thing.
[00:59:33] Ali Gilbert: A lot of guys that say, I’m very regimented, and eat clean. And I'm just like, let me see. And it still isn't enough food for what they're doing or they'll like, pretend they're fasting. And then it's calories are all over the place. And I'm like, “Alright, we’ll clean this up”.
[00:59:50] Chad: So going through this whole experience, especially getting to this level of leans, if you will. There's definitely been some hacks that I've had had to make in terms of satisfying some urges, whether it be snacks or whatever. I've got a whole huge ass pan of sugar free jello that's always in my fridge. Are there any food hacks that are your favorite that are great for people that are kind of like in the situation that you just love?
[01:00:22] Ali Gilbert: So like you mentioned jello, which I think is disgusting, but I've learned to like it.
[01:00:27] Chad: It's not that bad.
[01:00:28] Ali Gilbert: Like they actually make Starburst sugar free jello on Amazon that someone turned me on to. So that's one of them. Another one is eating like a lot of vegetables if your stomach can handle it. So I know personally, you and I are not veggie people, doesn’t work with me. But that will work for some people. Nicotine patches or nicotine gum helps suppress the appetite. There's a whole slew of stimulants. Listen, I am very transparent with the fact that I have a fridge full of energy drinks in our garage, I have one every day. Caffeine does really well at suppressing appetite. If you take ADD drugs, then if you have access to that, whatever, do your own thing that helps too. I have Adderall. I will take Adderall that helps my appetite. I have been diagnosed with ADHD. It's not bought that. Again, if somebody did, I don't judge do you want it. I have actually created an eBook and it's free. So I'm not trying to promote it. But it's called “Meathead Food Hacks” specifically for this question. So there's a protein putting that I make where it's casein protein powder, which is a little bit thicker than normal whey protein. But if you add plain gelatin powder for cooking, and then you let it sit in the fridge, the volume of pudding that you get is huge. And I found cookies and cream food extract. Put that in there with this black dark chocolate cocoa powder and it's like Oreo. But he's close enough to like when you die it anything that's sweet tastes good.
[01:02:04] Chad: Yep, that's very true.
[01:02:05] Ali Gilbert: Which I found these are much easier ways to satisfy cravings than back in the day when I used to put like Splenda on tilapia, which is obscene, like no one should ever do that.
[01:02:17] Chad: I can’t imagine that. Does that make it any sweeter?
[01:02:20] Ali Gilbert: It made it sweet. I put cinnamon and Splenda on broccoli, like this is when I competed and that was not normal or fun. So like protein puddings, jello’s appetizer.
[01:02:32] Chad: It's a thing that you have me hooked on because I'm a huge peanut butter person. Love peanut butter. And it was hard for me to get rid of the peanut butter. Because it is so loaded in calories and fat. Is the beef it stuff. So I have the powder beef it. I mixed that with almond milk. And then I put on your recommendation sugar free syrup in there. I don't think I'm gonna go back to peanut butter. It's actually really good.
[01:02:59] Ali Gilbert: I forget about that one.
[01:03:00] Chad: That's a good one.
[01:03:02] Ali Gilbert: Walden Farms makes sugar free syrup.
[01:03:05] Chad: Oh, really?
[01:03:06] Ali Gilbert: It the only sugar free syrup. It's the only product they make that actually taste good. And you put it in the fridge. It's really thick. It's like straight Splenda colored with maple syrup like and people who asked me about the whole food preservative for sucralose. Get out of here. They drink alcohol and they do other shit. Like this is our one. It's not that bad, whatever, diet soda is another one. I think I had every flavor diet soda on earth while I was going through my photo-shoot prep, because they make zero sugar everything now it's just tastes so much better than the diet. I don't know why. But the orange one, the root beer like all that stuff helps suppress your appetite. But the Walden Farms mixing the powdered peanut butter.
[01:03:49] Chad: I'm gonna have to look into that. I haven't tried the Walden Farms one but I will say that that beef stuff is PB fit. I literally mix a whole container of it and just put it in my fridge.
[01:04:02] Ali Gilbert: That's how I made a satay or peanut sauce and then another hack, miracle noodles.
[01:04:14] Chad: You did send me this. I haven't tried those yet.
[01:04:17] Ali Gilbert: They're made out of cognac flour, which is like a higher fiber does not bother the gut. So it looks like spaghetti. It does not give you the same satisfaction I would say as spaghetti but it is very voluminous. So you feel like you're eating a lot more. And it actually solves the problem of like, I have chicken, I have peanut sauce, where do I pour it on these noodles.
[01:04:40] Chad: They have the rice stuff too. How is that compared to the noodles?
[01:04:43] Ali Gilbert: I mean, the texture is weird. It's not like actual rice. It’s a little bit rubbery but I like it.
[01:04:48] Chad: I think it adds substance especially if you're already in that depleted state anything taste pretty good.
[01:04:54] Ali Gilbert: Anything taste pretty good.
[01:05:00] Chad: Anybody that could be like as sick to get this far into the conversation and be like, I want that food hack is definitely getting the benefit out of this.
[01:05:07] Ali Gilbert: People probably listening to this like what the fuck?
[01:05:09] Chad: These people are so weird.
[01:05:10] Ali Gilbert: Or rotisserie chicken you sit down with a whole rotisserie chicken stuff like that. I think a lot of things that you and I think of people never think of and that's kind of why I made that eBook because I was like, “There are other things that you can try that are like Franken foods, eat me guilt free makes a protein brownie”. Is it the same thing as a brownie? No. Is it close enough? Yes, they make it add an egg whites and whey protein powder.
[01:05:36] Chad: And I think that's the big misconception that a lot of people have a hard time with is like, they know that there are some foods that are healthy, but probably not the best for you to be eating if you're looking to reach a certain goal. Like, bananas are great for you. Fruit is great for you. Watermelon is great for you. But if you're throwing that all together, it's got a shit ton. I had a client one time she was like, I make this smoothie in the morning. I put a little protein in there. I'm like, “Cool”. She's like, I put a little almond milk. And then I do berries, bananas and all this bullshit. And I'm like, “Great. Let's add this up”. I'm going to add this up right in front of you. So you can see what that is. She was like, “Holy shit”. I didn't realize I was taking like 100 grams of carbs and like a million grams of sugar in this one smoothie. Is that a healthy smoothie? “Yeah” but it's not going to help you reach your goals. So and it's interesting when people start kind of really diving into it. And that's I, that's my favorite part. But I like to work with people that are really just sick in the head. And they're just like, they'll take it to that next level. Not where like every week, I have to be like, “We talked about this last week, we talked about this already”. Like, I feel it's a broken record, broken record, and broken record in our domain. And it's always an excuse as to why we didn't do it, or why we didn't do it and those are the things I think about when I'm working with you. I'm like, “I don't want to be that broken record. I want to be that person that does what they say they're going to do”, because that's what I want to hear from my clients.
[01:07:03] Ali Gilbert: But if you’re the broken record, I’ll tell you.
[01:07:05] Chad: I know you. And that's where you're better than me because I'll kind of beat around that bush and be like, we kind of talked about this, let's go over it again. You'll be like “Chad, what the fuck?” I know.
[01:07:17] Ali Gilbert: I have colleagues that are. I guess the word would be less abrasive than Shire. I don't I granted I do have some clients, I have to be more gentle with and coddle a little bit more. But then as they get to know my approach. That's why I love people who know what I'm about referrals can be tough if they've never like heard of anything about me, because they're like, “What the fuck just happened?” But usually, it's guys who listened to a podcast of mine. And they're like, “Talk to me like you do on the podcast with being that direct”. But I personally, will really appreciate when someone's upfront with me, and call me out on my shit and say, this is what you have to do versus dancing around it. And then I have to figure it out. I'm not good at picking up on hints. I just need you to tell me. So people usually seem to appreciate truth, maybe it's hard to hear. But they do appreciate that. I had a come to Jesus moment where I used to get very angry that people would not take care of their bodies. And we go to Disney a lot. And at Disney, you see a lot of fried foods and stuff like that. And I would be like, “They could be so much healthier”.
[01:08:24] Chad: Because the Turkey legs there, though, “I know, those are sweet”.
[01:08:28] Ali Gilbert: But then you see it filtered to the family and I feel bad for the kids. And I'm like these kids are gonna grow up obese. And both Charlie and my friend Gil, who's a medical provider, where like, “You can't project what you get angry at on others and want it more for them than they want it for themselves. If they want help, they'll ask you”. And I'm like, “I know”. But they're like, “Stop Ali” because it's wasted energy to get angry at that.
[01:08:58] Chad: And I noticed that too at Disney. But I also noticed that when I was on a cruise five years ago with my wife, and we were sitting like, we were gonna be bragging.
[01:09:03] Ali Gilbert: I've never been really on the cruise.
[01:09:04] Chad: Oh my God, it's like a food court that you'd see in the mall. Everybody goes and they just all at the same place, whatever. And my wife and I were sitting there and I'm like, “Damn, this is sad”. Like, people were coming in barely able to walk or you would see them come in two or three times in like the half an hour that you're there. Or they're going up for seconds thirds fourth, and you're like, “It's bad”. It gives you and you're like, “Wow, this is really what's wrong with the world”. And, like you said, some of those people don't care. They just like, “Whatever, I'm fine with that”.
[01:09:41] Ali Gilbert: I wish I had that confidence to know to be able and granted, I love cinnamon rolls, but I can't finish one anymore. I don't know, I know food is very social. And I don't see it as a social thing anymore. I used to, but I don't know. I just try not to get as upset I used to and I don't, I won't judge somebody that I am close with. If they want help, then I'll absolutely be there in a heartbeat to help them but you just can't want something more than somebody wants it for themselves in any aspect.
[01:10:16] Chad: Well, I am looking forward to all that in the winter. I already told you, I'm going for it this winter. Like, I want to hit 250.
[01:10:27] Ali Gilbert: What’s your weigh what right now?
[01:10:28] Chad: 220, so 30 pounds. So every time I'm like, I wish I could eat that pizza, or I wish I could have this or I wish I could add that. I'm like, “This winter I’m gonna stop”.
[01:10:38] Ali Gilbert: And then you'll be like, “Can I stop eating the pizza, Ali? Like, when can I die it?
[01:10:44] Chad: I told, Ali, I was like, “Listen, I wanted sit there and just be sweating. Because I'm just so calorie rich and just absorbing it all”. But anyways, that's my plan for the winter. So last question, you and I are big bang fans. What's your favorite flavor of bang?
[01:11:03] Ali Gilbert: Someone asked me this on Instagram the other day and I actually really liked the chocolate when they came out.
[01:11:10] Chad: Is that the coffee one?
[01:11:11] Ali Gilbert: No, it's chocolate. I forget the name of it. Chocolate culottes, so different from the coffee ones. It has a really weird taste at first but then I'm like I really like it. And Piña Colada is really good. And then the radical skedaddle. So I can't pick just one but I'm digging the chocolate right now.
[01:11:29] Chad: Have you had the cherry vanilla one?
[01:11:30] Ali Gilbert: I have.
[01:11:31] Chad: That's my favorite because I like Dr Pepper. Like it's kind of like a Dr Pepper.
[01:11:36] Ali Gilbert: I made jello shots. The Cherry Vanilla jello and cherry vanilla bang when we went to a Pitbull concert. And I think I had a little too many. And that's why I don’t have Cherry Vanilla.
[01:11:47] Chad: I got you. There is definitely certain alcohols I can't even smell anymore without getting nauseous. So I want to just kind of talk about a few things that you have going on. You have the new guerilla coaching program that just you just launch it?
[01:12:00] Ali Gilbert: It will be launching next month.
[01:12:04] Chad: So I'll link all that stuff in the show notes. And then do you still have the testosterone school going on?
[01:12:09] Ali Gilbert: Not live now. But if somebody wants it, they can message.
[01:12:13] Chad: I will put all that stuff in the show notes too, because testosterone school actually went through, and it's a crash course on testosterone. It’s really everything. So it was a good introduction, but it's also a good wealth of knowledge that you can get if especially if you're in that mindset right now, I think it's great. Where can people find you, Ali? I know you've got Instagram, you've got your website.
[01:12:38] Ali Gilbert: They can find me mostly on Instagram at thealigilbert. And pretty much that's where most of my content is posted. I'm on Facebook too. They can find me there. And my website is ali-gilbert.com. So we’re also in October at the end of October, I have Silverback summit. This is an immersive event. So any of you guys listening, it's for men in South Florida. So South Florida at the end of October, oh my god, if you play golf, or if you just want to get away, it's freaking awesome. And it is three days of my most trusted practitioners, Justin included, who will be speaking on everything related from prostate cancer, cardiovascular health, testosterone replacement. I'll be talking about fitness and nutrition. I have another FitPro coming to talk about that. All the questions that guys want to know the answer to but don't really know who to turn to, they can get it there. And I have social activities planned and everything and bourbon tasting barbecue like ton of man shit. I think the guys will be bringing cigars because that I don't know where to go for it.
[01:13:46] Chad: That's all live.
[01:13:47] Ali Gilbert: That's all live in person.
[01:13:48] Chad: I'll put up that in the show notes as well. I may go to that. We'll see the week after that. I'm actually gonna be down there again, because I'm going down there for a week's vacation. I wish I could do that, that'd be awesome. So we'll see. We'll see what's gonna happen there. But anything else that you got coming up or anything that you want to add that I might have missed?
[01:14:07] Ali Gilbert: No, I think that's all. I've covered a lot.
[01:14:10] Chad: I know I'm getting hungry. I'm gonna eat my next meal.
[01:14:14] Ali Gilbert: Have some nicotine.
[01:14:15] Chad: Absolutely. So thank you, Ali. I appreciate it.
[01:14:17] Ali Gilbert: Thank you.
[01:14:18] Chad: And we'll look forward to seeing you at the Silverback Summit.
[01:14:24] PODCAST OUTRO: Thank you for joining us “In The RACK” this week. Make sure to subscribe so you don't miss out on any future episodes. You can also find us online at proformptma.com, or on social media at ProForm PTMA. And remember;
“If you train inside the rack, you better be thinking outside the rack”.
