Introductory Lesson: Time to Thrive
All video content in Thrive in 30 was written, filmed, edited and produced by Brendan Brazier (© 2009)
Hi! I’m Brendan Brazier and I’ll be your guide on a 30 day journey that will increase your knowledge about nutrition, provide you with an alternative to traditional fitness principles and give you a fresh approach to total body health.For me it all began at the age of 15, when I decided to become a professional Ironman triathlete. Since Ironman competitions combine a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile cycle, and marathon (26.2 miles of running), making a full-time career of racing clearly requires a serious approach to training. But I loved the Ironman lifestyle, so for no other reason than enjoyment, I happily pursued my goal.
Given the magnitude of my investment in preparing my body for professional competition, I knew adhering to the most effective training program possible would give me a sizable advantage, so I looked at the training programs of some of the world’s top professional Ironman athletes with the plan of mimicking their routines.
To distinguish what elevated the best athletes from the typical, I also looked at training regimens of those with respectable yet average performance. What I found surprised me: the average athlete’s program differed very little from the elite.
If training discrepancies were minimal and natural talent can only get you so far, what caused some athletes to pull out ahead of the rest of the pack? The most significant difference I found between the upper-echelon elites and the moderately-performing athlete had little to do with training—it was almost all about recovery.
Breakthrough performances are hinged on the rate at which the body can regenerate itself after training. Realizing this, quick and complete recovery became my focus. And as I discovered, diet has the single greatest impact on recovery. In fact, food choices can account for up to 80 percent of the total recovery process.
My focus then shifted specifically to nutrition—not because I had an interest in nutrition—but simply because I knew that what I ate could very well be the difference between having a pro-career or not!
I raced Ironman triathlons professionally for seven years. But beyond racing professionally, I’ve learned that optimal nutrition is a means to a full, energetic, productive and enjoyable life—regardless of your personal goals. Simply put, premium nutrition will make any challenge you face easier.
Through trial and error, I discovered that with the perfect combination of the right foods, it was possible to achieve incredible levels of fitness that went far beyond what I could have achieved on a regular diet. This perfect combination evolved for me in the form of a whole food, plant-based diet.As I committed to fueling my training—and my life—this way, I quickly realized that what most people consider to be facts about a plant-based diet are actually unsubstantiated myths.
If you’re vegetarian or vegan (or perhaps even if you’re not), you’re probably familiar with a lot of these plant-based myths:
- Animal protein is the optimal source of protein for building muscle
- Humans need to eat meat to receive a full range of nutrients
- Reducing or eliminating your meat consumption will make you weak, lethargic and put you at risk of developing illness such as anemia and osteoporosis.
- Decrease body fat
- Diminish visible signs of aging
- Boost energy without caffeine or sugar
- Cultivate mental clarity
- Enhance mood
- Eliminate junk-food cravings
- Improve sleep quality
- Build a stronger immune system
- Lower cholesterol
- Reduce biological age
Real changes stick when you approach them as a positive addition to your life instead of a sacrifice. You can still create tangible improvements in your health without completely forsaking fish or other animal-based foods.
Watch this lesson’s video, where I’ll provide an overview and answer some common questions on how you can get started with the healthy choices that will enable you to thrive every day!
What Can You Expect from Thrive in 30?
In addition to teaching you all about nutrition and how to harness the power of whole plant-based foods to create vitality, each lesson you receive in the 30 days of this program will end with specific actions you can take to make this adventure a true success. Acting on these points will help you apply what you’ve learned and make positive, step-by-step changes that will stay with you long after you’ve completed this program.Take Action:
- Examine your current diet. Write a list of all the things you eat that you think might be taking away from your energy or aren’t supporting your health and fitness goals.
- Plan for success as you take action over your 30 day journey to thrive. The changes you make throughout this program will be most effective when you can make them your new habits. The following five habits are the tools that will make it easier to get the most from this program—they’ll help you succeed if you develop and follow them consistently:
- Eat throughout the day—eating several small meals helps maintain energy levels, eases digestive strain and spreads nutrients to sustain you all day
- Drink a nutritious smoothie each day—you’ll get whole food nutrition that’s easy on your digestive system and provides lasting energy
- Eat a big green salad every day—these are a staple when eating to thrive (you’ll learn why over the next 30 days)
- Eat a raw energy bar every day—they’re an easy way to pack nutrition into a convenient, easy to carry form
- Eat a substantial, balanced afternoon snack—you’ll get the nutrition you need so you won’t be famished when it comes to your evening meal
Next Lesson Preview:
Stress has a BIG impact on your health! You’ll get an in-depth look at different kinds of stress and empower you to reduce stress’s ill effects with simple dietary choices.
Looking forward to our first lesson!
Brendan
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