tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6204617750328919211.post3989140368649027235..comments2023-10-10T13:42:24.506-07:00Comments on MDK10 Outside: Art Devany Has No ClothesMichael Catonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01017910055699348111noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6204617750328919211.post-42211055228521120212015-02-06T22:06:32.306-08:002015-02-06T22:06:32.306-08:00Paul, thanks for your comment. Great that this po...Paul, thanks for your comment. Great that this post continues attracting comment after so long. I'm glad Devany's approach has worked for you. Another thing which I've thought about since I posted this but which I don't know if there's any literature on, is differing exercise response based on type of exercise. To some degree I think each of us will find the workout that we respond best to, and keep doing that. Certainly overall response to any exercise does definitely differ between individuals. So it may be that lifting (or running) doesn't build lean muscle and/or have the same mortality/illness avoidance benefits for each person.Michael Catonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01017910055699348111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6204617750328919211.post-50413725250799313462015-02-05T23:08:51.777-08:002015-02-05T23:08:51.777-08:00Following up on Andy's point: De Vany advocat...Following up on Andy's point: De Vany advocates short, intense workouts that are playfully nonroutine. He also says not to do reps until failure; you're basically training the brain to fail. Instead, he advocates fast lifts and slow lowering of weights, which tear the fast-twitch fibers (thus promoting their growth) to get a slight burn going.<br /><br />There's a sense of well-being afterward that doesn't quite match the runner's high, but is certainly worth it!<br /><br />I like your point about running as meditation, and as a spur to get out in nature. It's a way to feel good in this life!<br /><br />But De Vany's main concern is counteracting aging and avoiding chronic disease, and he summons acres of evidence when he gets down in the weeds of physiology, so to speak. I buy it. There seems to be a direct connection between muscle mass/body composition and the fending off inflammation-caused elderly decay.<br /><br />The Maasai example is a strong point, too; Art may be all wet in dismissing our ancestors' capacity for long runs. But I see a lot of value in his work, too. It's changed my life for the better! <br /><br />Thanks for a thoughtful critique. <br /><br />Paulnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6204617750328919211.post-17785393772170476552013-01-19T17:11:13.751-08:002013-01-19T17:11:13.751-08:00Andy, I think there are two possible interpretatio...Andy, I think there are two possible interpretations of your statement here. One is that you're a paleo/high impact lifting guy and you do in fact have such a positive experience from your workouts. If that's the case, that's great, although based on my conversations around this topic with people on both sides of the fence, you seem to be in the minority - but if you feel this is incorrect please don't hesitate to correct me. The other possible interpretation is that you think this observation (that I enjoy my runs) is irrelevant to the discussion. If that's the objection, then I don't know what to say - I don't know how else we might assess relevance.Michael Catonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01017910055699348111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6204617750328919211.post-42683753075700090032012-12-23T05:59:45.449-08:002012-12-23T05:59:45.449-08:00"It makes me feel great, in a way I've ne..."It makes me feel great, in a way I've never heard even one high-impact lifter say their workout made them feel..."<br /><br />I thought I was about to enjoy a well rounded discussion/arguement to a way of thinking that I am just exploring (evolutionary lifestyles/fitness), when you make this comment and lost me completely..Andynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6204617750328919211.post-52802627676270758792009-11-03T00:32:43.115-08:002009-11-03T00:32:43.115-08:00Anonymous:
a) There are a lot of questions about ...Anonymous:<br /><br />a) There are a lot of questions about exercise biology that aren't settled. We should look to exercise physiologists and nutritionists to settle them, not to economists, passionate though they may be.<br /><br />b) I make no quarrel about the shape that Art appears to be in, but as I mentioned, i) one physique does not an exercise theory make, and ii) I'll bet the rest of his family looks pretty damn good at that age too. Not all of us<br />have good genes. This is why you need broader studies with big sample sizes; Devany unfortunately cherry picks, and said picking seems to be motivated by an agenda.<br /><br />c) In fairness to Devanians (including yourself), it seems the fundamentalists I encountered prior to this post are not representative of Devany fans as a whole. I've received no jihadis from his camp, though I welcome evidence-based counterarguments; bottom line, I still think that he's making claims that he mostly doesn't have evidence for, and he's motivated by an ideology.Michael Catonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01017910055699348111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6204617750328919211.post-80096120427509939282009-11-01T11:26:47.778-08:002009-11-01T11:26:47.778-08:00I am a big fan of Art DeVany. He is not an amature...I am a big fan of Art DeVany. He is not an amature in biophysics.<br /><br />I am not dogmatic and certainly not religeous. But there is so much crap out there about health and exercise that I need scientific proof before I accept anything. And that is what Art is providing. He is a professor and capable of reading and interpreting scientic articles- even if it's not about economics.<br /><br />He must be at least 70 by now but looks much youger. He is fit and strong.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6204617750328919211.post-4972663165052223832009-03-28T08:30:00.000-07:002009-03-28T08:30:00.000-07:00Well done article, and I bet DeVany agrees but cho...Well done article, and I bet DeVany agrees but chooses to stress not running because so many people view it as a savior for total health, when really it's what you eat and being active. As much as I'd love it if we were like lions, who are truly the short burst animals, we are designed for a mix of steady running and high-intensity activity. Kudos for anyone who gets out and runs because they love it, it's a beautiful world and you don't get to see it lifting weights.Todd Christopherhttp://www.upforachallenge.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6204617750328919211.post-7100899213212494462009-02-24T16:14:00.000-08:002009-02-24T16:14:00.000-08:00I think this will be my one post about him. I thi...I think this will be my one post about him. I think the bottom line is that I would be just as suspicious of (well-known ultrarunner) Dean Karnazes if he started promoting eccentric economic theories about how to fix the credit markets.Michael Catonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01017910055699348111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6204617750328919211.post-45968704554933996912009-02-23T20:40:00.000-08:002009-02-23T20:40:00.000-08:00DaVany is basically full of it. He really doesn't...DaVany is basically full of it. He really doesn't understand physiology, misrepresents data and studies, and generally is clueless about biology.<BR/><BR/>Because of his rather amateur misguided attempts at exercise physiology I question even his statistical expertise.<BR/><BR/>I would not waste my time criticizing DeVany. He won't accept another point of view on his rather silly apeman diet and life.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6204617750328919211.post-14040433985621151632009-01-07T10:11:00.000-08:002009-01-07T10:11:00.000-08:00Great point Tom. I certainly don't begrudge peopl...Great point Tom. I certainly don't begrudge people making money from their interests. If I could think of a way to monetize my blogs I'd do it in a second. But in Art's case, it does add further suspicion on the claims of someone who rejects out of hand any data that doesn't fit his pre-existing models.Michael Catonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01017910055699348111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6204617750328919211.post-56293171568808019422009-01-06T15:43:00.000-08:002009-01-06T15:43:00.000-08:00Great Blog,I share your views. A while back I resp...Great Blog,<BR/>I share your views. A while back I responded to Devany and his followers using excerpts from a book i was reading by Roosevelt, written during his hunting and species collecting while in Africa. Roosevelt clearly stated his amazement at how the Maasai would hunt by running their prey to death...by giving chase for days. Devany responded by saying that he owns a maasai spear and they would be too weak to throw the heavy weapon if they ran the claimed amount of distance. So I'm guessing that Roosevelt<BR/>dreamed all this up. No point arguing that the body is actually hardwired for distance running because he won't buy into any of the solid data<BR/>that doesn't support his view. I also tried to site a 73 year old marathoner who lives in my town named Ed Whitlock who holds multiple world records in several age categories. I see him running his 15-20k a day in the local cemetery. He's a machine, but Devany said he was too scrawny to throw a spear and would have starved to death in that scenario. At this point my viewpoint changed from supporter to skeptic. Your right when you say his approach is evangelical, that's the only other forum (religion) that I've experienced someone who refuses to see any perspective other than their own. I'm an avid adventure racer so running is a big part of my training and my life. Do it right and the rewards are off the charts. And most serious multi sport/triathlon racers I know have very well balanced and toned muscle definition. Ultimately, by having an objective viewpoint Devany would sell fewer of his DVD packages. Happy trails, keep up the miles, live long and prosper.<BR/>Tom Bjelic (bjelic@cogeco.ca)<BR/>Milton, OntarioAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com