The Next Step

A few years back I realized that there was more to the story than my scope of practice; that if I wanted to help people become healthier there was more that could be taken into consideration than just exercise and force application.  As I have mentioned before, force application is my tool of choice when it comes to helping others, but there have always been other aspects of my clients' lives to collect data on--what are you eating? how are you sleeping? how stressed have you been? etc.



The problem was not only did I not want to dedicate the time to really understanding the ins and outs of these areas like I did with force, but these areas did not grab a hold of my passion like force application did.  I understood they were important and needed to be taken into consideration.  I even understood that without getting those areas somewhat in check, my force application aspect may be completely futile in creating any type of positive change, or worse, it may be detrimental.  But I didn't know what to do about it.

Then came my brother, Tony.  And while he enjoyed the force application side of things, he came to the realization that it was not what ignited his passion.  BUT, the nutrition and wellness piece did.

So, without further ado, I would like to introduce you to the next step in this journey of Self Made®:  Self Made Nutrition.

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Self Made Nutrition is headed by Tony Cates and provides the ability to test clients for hormone imbalances and possible digestive organ issues, assess clients' metabolic type, and creates a platform by which to distribute and discuss nutrition and lifestyle information.  True to Self Made® form, the advice and recommendations given are based off of your individual body at that moment in time.  What is your specific digestive issue?  How are your individual hormone levels?  What are your exact food sensitivities and intolerances?  How can each of these be addressed based on your current lifestyle?

As vital as these services are to ensuring that my services could be applied as appropriately as possible, I was previously unable to provide them.  But now, via the services offered through Self Made Nutrition, these services can be made available under the Self Made® name.

Be one of the first 10 people to sign up for your initial free consultation and purchase any service at 50% off!  Click HERE for details!

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Metabolic Typing: A Brief Introduction

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If you have ever wondered why one particular fad diet works great for some people while making others feel miserable, metabolic typing may be the answer.

Metabolic typing is a means by which to make nutritional recommendations based off of an individual's biochemistry. Through a self-prescribed quiz, which requires you to describe how you feel after you eat certain foods, in addition to other how your body tolerates other environmental factors, individuals are categorized into one of three types:  Protein Type, Carbohydrate Type, or Mixed Type.

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There are different version of the quiz, ranging from just a handful of questions to upwards of 65.  A 50-question online version can be found here.  The beauty of this one is it makes dietary recommendations immediately after you finish the quiz.  A 65-question pdf version can be found here.  This is the same test that is found in the book, "The Metabolic Typing Diet" by William Wolcott.  In order to find dietary recommendations, though, you will need to purchase the book, take the online quiz, or contact a certified metabolic typing practitioner.  For the latter quiz, you tally up how many A's, B's, and C's you had.  If your total number of A's was 5 or more higher than both the B's and C's, you are considered a Carbohydrate Type.  Likewise, if your total number of C's was 5 or more higher than both the A's and B's, you are considered a Protein Type.  Finally, if B was your predominant answer or if you did not have a letter that netted 5 or more answers than the other two, you are considered a Mixed Type.

While these two quizzes offer the basics of metabolic typing, the book describes that there are more categories an individual can fall into than just the three listed.  A trained practitioner will be able to detect which subsystem of the autonomic nervous system is dominant in an individual as well as the rate as which they oxidize macronutrients.  This will, in turn, alter both the specific dietary recommendations in addition to the exact percentages of each macronutrient the individual should consume throughout the day.  Additionally, the book offers sample menus, foods to avoid for your type, and even touches on subjects such as circadian rhythm and blood type.

In short, the theory behind metaboic typing is that our ancestors had to survive on only the foods that were found in their habitat, which would differ as you moved from one geographical location to the next.  An example given in the book is a comparison between the Eskimos and the Mayan Indians.  While Eskimos would eat a diet that was mostly fat and protein, the Mayan Indians would eat most carbohydrates.  Both groups, however, had immense health as a population, despite their drastically different diets.  Both groups were able to efficiently metabolize the food that was found in their respective environments, which allowed for an abundance of well-being.

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Calories are not even part of the picture with metabolic typing.  Because you are eating a diet that is right for your body, you will be able to actually utilize the food you eat for energy instead of storing it as fat.  You will also not have to worry about over-eating because you will eating foods that are satiating you and satisfying your body's nutritional needs.  Likewise, if you are trying to bulk up or build muscle, your body will finally have the nutritional means to do so because its needs are being met.

A critical point that is brought up by the book is that your metabolic type is not set in stone.  In fact, it will likely shift based on the internal environment that is created within you, so it is important to retake the quiz every few months to see if you are still eating appropriately.

Personally, I function very well on a high-fat, high-protein diet.  When I eat bread, pizza, pasta, or anything along those lines, I feel incredibly lethargic and it skyrockets my blood glucose level.  Even sweeter fruits such as berries and pineapple mess me up.  Give me some bacon, butter, beef, and cheese, however, and I am a very happy camper.

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If you are sick feeling lousy after you eat, of one-size-fits-all dietary recommendations, or of not getting the results you desire from your diets, I would highly suggest giving metabolic typing a shot.  Metabolic typing is not your traditional diet.  It is a way of eating for life.

**Additional resources for metabolic typing:

Underground Wellness Podcasts (1/13/09 and 9/30/09)

Your Body.  Your Training.

Charlie Cates, MATs, CSCS

Self Made_®, Owner and Founder

Charlie Cates is a Muscle Activation Techniques™ specialist and a certified strength and conditioning specialist.  He is the owner and founder of Self Made_® (http://selfmadefitness.com/) in Chicago, IL.  He has worked with competitive athletes and everyday people of all ages and ability levels, from 9-year-old kids to NFL MVP’s to 85-year-old retirees.  He can be reached via e-mail at charlie@selfmadefitness.com.

This article may be reproduced with biographical information intact.

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