BEN GREENFIELD Workout and Diet
Entrepreneur, Coach, Author, Speaker
Born: 1981
Part caveman, part hippy, part biohacker, Ben Greenfield rarely puts his pants on before noon. Greenfield believes in intermittent fasting, meaning he does not eat for 12-16 hours per day. He also reads a devotional and writes in a gratitude journal each day. Homeschooled K-12, he graduated high school at 16, then went to college where he worked multiple jobs while maintaining a 4.0 in his science courses and graduated at age 20. He decided not to go to medical school but instead got a Master’s degree in exercise physiology and biomechanics. Greenfield has trained with Navy SEALs, completed over 120 triathalons and 12 Ironman triathalons, and won several bowhunting competitions. He has appeared on some of the toughest reality TV shows and is the author of more than a dozen books.
Known For:
BEN GREENFIELD’s Diet
Summary
Greenfield engages in intermittent fasting every day of the year. He is big on greens and consumes an enormous amount of home-grown vegetables each day. He likes tannin-rich beverages first thing in the morning, such as tea and coffee, and he tends to eat the same meals over and over. He does not believe any food is categorically ‘bad’ (with the possible exception of junk food), but thinks each person is unique and that right diet is the one that suits your personal biology.
Estimated Macros
- Low Carbs 5%
- Moderate Protein 15%
- High Fat 75%
Diet Details
Green Up
Aptly-named Greenfield consumes an astonishing 20-25 servings of plants each day, most of which he grows in his backyard. He eats all this in the form of huge salads and smoothies. Breakfast is a green smoothie. Lunch is a salad. Afternoon snack is usually another smoothie (sometimes coconut milk with protein powder) and dinner is another big salad.
Chew like a Cow (The Fletcher Method)
Greenfield spends 30-60 minutes eating a meal, chewing each bite 20-25x. He readily admits he resembles a cow when he eats. (Mooing optional)
Intermittent Fasting
Greenfield fasts for 12-16 hours each day, every single day of the year. His only exception is a tannin-rich beverage first thing in the morning such as tea or coffee, but with nothing added (zero calories).
What to Eat
Full-fat coconut milk
Avocados
Olives
Free-range eggs
Healthy oils
Nuts
Seeds
Sardines
Sweet potatoes
Bone Broth
Nori
What to Avoid
Sugar
Processed foods
Artificial sugar
Lunch meats
Hydrogenated oils
Fried foods
Carbonated beverages
Alcohol
High fructose corn syrup
Ben Greenfield on Diet Simplicity
The diet is pretty strict in terms of no bread, very few carbs, no sugar, no bullshit. Healthy food, a lot of vegetables and a lot of game meat, mostly wild game.
Ben Greenfield on Diet Recommendations
I don’t follow or advocate anything. I think it’s silly because of biokinetic individuality…
Ben Greenfield on Food Choices
Before you eat anything, ask yourself 2 crucial questions: is it nutrient-dense and is it digestible?
Ben Greenfield’s Workout Routine
Weekly Routine
The Hippy Workout
Greenfield does light aerobic exercise for 20-40 minutes in the morning, followed by a sauna and cold water bath.
Keep Moving
Greenfield is active all day long. Even with writing, consulting and checking email, he’ll walk barefoot 3-5 miles every day (unless he’s visiting a city where he’ll don Earthrunners). He is mildly physically active for 6-8 hours each day.
Sunset Knockout
He saves the hard workout for the end of the day, 30-60 minutes of intense exercise, working at maximum heart rate. It could be tennis, kickboxing, jujitsu, an obstacle course or a swim.
Exercise Style
Favorite Exercises
Loaded Pushups
Torso Twists
Front Squats
Mountain Climbers
Kettlebell Swings
Burpees
Trampoline jumps
Pushups
Deadlifts
Walking lunges
Handstand walks
Foam Rolling
To keep his muscles loose and to break up fascial adhesions, he spends 5-10 minutes each morning with a foam roller.
Ben Greenfield on Finding Balance
You have to leave behind the exhausting pursuit of exercise for the sake of exercise and discover the beautiful balance between health and performance.
Ben Greenfield on Listening to Music During Exercise
People who listened to music during exercise actually improved their mood, the speed of their decision-making, and even their verbal fluency. That means you’ll not only be able to exercise harder when you listen to music, but you may actually get smarter
Ben Greenfield’s Supplements
Amino Acids
Amino acids do so much: boost your energy, help with sleep, recovery, grow muscles, and more.
Collagen
Collagen is important for joint and connective tissue repair, as well as immune system support.
Kion Lean
Kion Lean is a blend of wild bitter melon and rock lotus and is used for managing blood sugar.
Oregano Essential Oil
Oregano essential oil boosts the immune system, can heal stomach ulcers and inhibits the growth of cancer cells.
Creatine
Creatine is a well-researched, safe way to enhance cognition as well as increase your muscles’ work capacity and power output.
Colostrum
Colostrum enhances growth hormone levels, boosts immunity and has supports healthy digestion.
Fish Oil
Fish oil is full of omega-3 fatty acids which promote heart health, reduce inflammation, and improve mood and brain function.
Ben Greenfield’s Lifestyle
Sleep
Sleep is a high priority for Greenfield. He has gone high-tech (no surprise) and monitors his sleep with an ‘Ã URA’ ring which tracks everything about his sleep cycle, from time spent in each stage, to heart rate, breathing, and movements.
Grounding
Another thing Greenfield in interested in is called ‘grounding’, or using the earth’s natural magnetic frequency to regulate the circadian rhythm, hormone cycles and to absorb free radicals. Between wearing shoes and spending a lot of time indoors, we miss out on this benefit. Greenfield sleeps on a device which emits electromagnetic energy similar to that of the earth called Earthpulse.
Family Matters
Greenfield prioritizes his family. He believes that life without love is only half-lived. By making simple changes such as replacing your desk chair with a leaning stool and doing some squats throughout the day can dramatically improve your health without turning your wife into an exercise widow.
Operation: Biohack
After seeing his twins off to school, Greenfield engages in 20-30 minutes of creative work. Then he gets serious about biohacking. He turns on his special lightbulbs then puts on his Re-Timer glasses to jumpstart his circadian rhythm. HumanCharger earbuds go in next, followed by the ENG3 NanoVi device to repair DNA. A pair of JOOVV lights (1 in front, 1 behind) get switched on, and the Vielight alpha brainwave simulator sits like a crown on his head. A nebulizing diffuser with rosemary essential oil perfumes and humidifies the air. Between the energizing lights and brain-enhancing smells, he feels like a superhuman machine, all before 7:30 am.
Move (Your Bowels) Like a Caveman
Greenfield likes to take his business outside and poop in nature, but he also has a squatty potty for when his only option is a standard toilet.
Ben Greenfield on the Meaning of Life
Have love, live your passion and believe in a greater story for your life. Those are my three keys to happiness.
Ben Greenfield on Stress
Stress is stress — no matter whether it’s from exercise or from lifestyle.
Recommended Products
Wild Sardines
Sleep Remedy
Qualia Mind Nootropic
Awake and Alert Lightbulbs
HumanCharger Earbuds
ENG3 NanoVi Device
Vielight
Re-Timer
JOOVV Lights
Apollo Neuro
Coconut Oil
Chia Seeds
References
https://bengreenfieldfitness.com/article/ben-greenfields-daily-routine-2/
https://bengreenfieldfitness.com/ben-greenfield/
http://blog.wellnessfx.com/2013/01/29/ben-greenfield-on/
