The Colorado Experiment - Tips to Making it Work

Note: October, 5 2011 - CF

The below post is my most popular of all time on this site.  Probably because it piggy-backed off of Tim Ferriss' post on the same subject that generated a lot of interest in the Colorado Experiment.  I did this experiment and did have excellent results but it isn't the central theme in my health and well-being program.  For long-term, sustainable low-bodyfat, high-muscle tone and strength, along with numerous other physical benefits, I recommend adjusting your life to fit the Primal Blueprint.  The Primal Blueprint is written by former endurance athlete, Mark Sisson (www.marksdailyapple.com), and promotes a diet and exercise regiment similar to our early ancestors for the maximum gene expression that our bodies have evolved to do.  This is the lifestyle I recommend.

I first learned about the Colorado Experiment through Tim Ferriss' blog post From Geek to Freak and then further reading from the original study here.  Few things you need to be prepared for if you decide to try this workout regiment on your own.  First, the field is definitely not unanimous and many "experts" think it is not possible.  That's fine but I didn't see any other valid study that proves otherwise and the track record of "experts" since humans walked the Earth is not very impressive.  I'd rather see for myself.  Another misnomer is that this workout is easy because you can do it in a relatively short amount of time per workout with greater time between workouts.  If you are doing it right - that is going to total failure on each exercise - then you will find it may be the toughest workout you've ever done.

I recommend you read the two articles linked above and then read on for the tips.

1. Find your sweet spot with the weight.  Too light and you expend so much energy going to failure and drag your workout too much longer time frame than required.  Too heavy and you're not taking the muscle to failure in so much as not having the strength to move the weight.  I recommend zeroing in on a weight that will have you at total failure between 8-12 reps.  Comments are welcome on this but this is the zone where I feel my muscles significantly pumped and drained.

2. Go to total failure.  This is by far and away the hardest component of this workout and requires as much or more mental toughness as physical.  Going to failure is psychologically difficult; everything in you will scream to quit but in order to succeed at this workout you have to press on.  Back in my younger days we would train our legs to the point of throwing up.  This is the level of effort you have to give every exercise and you will probably experience some nausea.

3. Eat, relax, and believe it will work. Your body needs the nutrients so follow the guidelines and eat a boatload of protein.  Also, rest thoroughly in between workouts.  When you workout, give 100%, when you rest, give 100% - that simple.  Stress induces the release of cortisol and cortisol inhibits muscle growth.  According to the study completed at The University of Texas Medical Branch, "...with elevated cortisol, the loss in muscle mass is almost 3-fold greater than with inactivity alone."  Finally, if you believe it will work then you are already closer to having positive effects.  Go into anything in life expecting BS or failure and you will find it.  Same goes for success.

4.  Forget about other people's results.  Research online will show you that many people did not have great results.  Others might have had unbelievable results.  Don't spend your time doing a comparison with these other people and only focus on your own progress.  There are way too many variables ranging from genetics to discipline to diet to attitude that are taken into account.  Forget about others and only focus on you, your routine, your diet, your rest, your discipline, and your attitude.

Like most things worth doing, you will get out of it what you put into it.