General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Anyone know much about Ben Greenfield Rss Feed  
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2013-04-22 11:43 AM

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Subject: Anyone know much about Ben Greenfield
I found his 36 week IM plan online. I went to his website and he talks about the evils of fiber. His plan is 8-12 hours a week. Is he legit?


2013-04-22 11:44 AM
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Subject: RE: Anyone know much about Ben Greenfield
2013-04-22 11:59 AM
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Subject: RE: Anyone know much about Ben Greenfield
The guy has a good educational background and knows his stuff, however, he keeps a VERY open mind and posts stuff like this. He is a bit cooky, I have a few friends on the Timex team that say he is an off-the-wall character too. Take what you want from him with caution.
2013-04-22 12:01 PM
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2013-04-22 2:08 PM
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Subject: RE: Anyone know much about Ben Greenfield
I listen to Endurance Planet, which is a podcast he started and in which he contributes with a nutrition show once a week. I still have not made up my mind. He seems to know a lot, especially about nutrition, but has some pretty radical ideas.
2013-04-22 6:30 PM
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Subject: RE: Anyone know much about Ben Greenfield
I bought one of his plans plans a few years ago and never ended up using it, not because of a problem with the plan but simply because it was too detailed for my personality. I think he provided as advertised and that there was value in what he produced.

If you listen long enough there is going to be some point in which Ben promotes something that you just don't agree with. He focuses heavily on nutrition products, he lifts weights, he uses magnets and kind of pushes back against the "old school" type training. Also, he tends to be very promotional.

Yet, I don't think you can dismiss Ben simply because he is pushing something. He works hard and he and people that follow his programs have good results.


2013-04-22 7:26 PM
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Subject: RE: Anyone know much about Ben Greenfield
Go to ST and do a search
2013-04-22 9:55 PM
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Subject: RE: Anyone know much about Ben Greenfield
There was a spreecast about a month ago, Ben Greenfield, Rich Roll and Vinnie Tortorich.  They all have pretty strong opinions and what they do works well for them.  I am leaning towards Vinnie Tortorich at the moment!
2013-04-22 10:30 PM
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Subject: RE: Anyone know much about Ben Greenfield

Yet, I don't think you can dismiss Ben simply because he is pushing something.

I can.

There are plenty of other people with equal or better qualifications / results who are NOT selling snake oil.

He's free to do what he wants, and the rest of us are free to ignore him.

2013-04-22 10:35 PM
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Subject: RE: Anyone know much about Ben Greenfield
spudone - 2013-04-22 10:30 PM

Yet, I don't think you can dismiss Ben simply because he is pushing something.

I can.

There are plenty of other people with equal or better qualifications / results who are NOT selling snake oil.

He's free to do what he wants, and the rest of us are free to ignore him.

I can too. If I have to do some checking elsewhere to see if something really is a good idea, then I'm just going look elsewhere in the first place.

2013-04-23 5:43 AM
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2013-04-23 6:53 AM
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Subject: RE: Anyone know much about Ben Greenfield
cbrave - 2013-04-22 8:30 PM

Yet, I don't think you can dismiss Ben simply because he is pushing something. He works hard and he and people that follow his programs have good results.


Why not? If I were to push magic bracelets and water with lots of pseudo science to support performance benefits when I knew that it was pseudo science, shouldn't I be dimissed as someone who doesn't care about approaching my craft ethically?

Shane
2013-04-23 7:00 AM
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Subject: RE: Anyone know much about Ben Greenfield
The whole no fiber thing doesn't make sense to me. I can understand during a race not eating much but otherwise imo it is not bad for you. Ask Scott Jurek about fiber. He's been a vegan for years and is probably the best ultra runner in the world.
2013-04-23 8:09 AM
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Subject: RE: Anyone know much about Ben Greenfield

This is why Ben doesn't need fiber:

http://www./2012/04/why-you-should-squat-to-poop/

 

2013-04-23 10:01 AM
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Subject: RE: Anyone know much about Ben Greenfield

The Anti-Fiber post was the view of one of BG's guests. Ben basically said he agrees but not to the extreme that his guest recommended.

I find that BG has a lot of good information but I also take everything he says with a grain of salt - He does promote a few things that I feel are woo - Like magnets, earthing, and structured water.

It is generally agreed that training should be about 80% easy/ 20% hard. BG basically promotes staying very active when you are not working out by doing things like using a standing work station, and doing some sort of exercise every hour (IE push ups, pull ups, jumping jacks), then increasing the portion of actual exercise time that is 'hard' with a lot of High Intensity Intervals.

This is just my view of Ben Greenfield's opinion but overall I feel he is worth listening to.

2013-04-23 10:18 AM
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Subject: RE: Anyone know much about Ben Greenfield
First, I'm not a Ben Greenfield defender or promoter, I only shared my opinion of his training materials and my conclusion about listening to him.

I choose not to dismiss people just because they may believe or emphasize things that I don't agree with. I would be stunned to meet someone who tracked 100% with Ben. I'd even be more scarred if I met someone who tracked 100% with my opinions. Yet I don't think you need to track 100% with someone to learn from them.

One of the dirty secrets about Triathlon is there is much more opinion and superstition than any of us care to admit. Yes there is science involved but the number of responses on this forum and ST also show things aren't as simple and cut and dried as we think.

As far as whether Ben is ethical, I can't answer that. I don't think it is a ethical problem to be in business to profit. If pseudo science resulted in immediate dismissal I think we would not have any shoe, bike, helmet, nutritional, or clothing choices left.

Okay, back to work...


2013-04-23 11:38 AM
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Subject: RE: Anyone know much about Ben Greenfield
cbrave - 2013-04-23 12:18 PM

I choose not to dismiss people just because they may believe or emphasize things that I don't agree with. I would be stunned to meet someone who tracked 100% with Ben. I'd even be more scarred if I met someone who tracked 100% with my opinions. Yet I don't think you need to track 100% with someone to learn from them.


I don't dismiss him because he doesn't agree with me; there are lots of people who don't agree with me that I engage with on a regular basis and this helps me to be a better coach. I dismiss what he says because he chooses to use his position in the sport to sell snake oil.

One of the dirty secrets about Triathlon is there is much more opinion and superstition than any of us care to admit. Yes there is science involved but the number of responses on this forum and ST also show things aren't as simple and cut and dried as we think.


There is a science and an art to coaching but, IMO, that should not lead to a coach selling products that are supported by pseudo science just to turn a buck. IMO selling magic bracelets and water shows that one is selling snake oil and is no longer credible.

As far as whether Ben is ethical, I can't answer that. I don't think it is a ethical problem to be in business to profit.


I have no issue with making money and a business earning a profit is not a problem. The problem is when someone knowingly (or at least he ought to know) sells snake oil just because they can and in order to turn a profit.

If pseudo science resulted in immediate dismissal I think we would not have any shoe, bike, helmet, nutritional, or clothing choices left.


I would suggest that this is hyperbole; while there are some products in those categories that have used pseudo science to support crazy claims, by no means does this apply to every shoe, bike, helmet, nutritional aid or clothing items.

Shane
2013-04-23 1:28 PM
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Subject: RE: Anyone know much about Ben Greenfield
I see him as the Kevin Trudeau of triathlon. He might have "knowledge" but believing in all of his wacky ideas and going off on those tangents will just end up derailing your success.
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