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Mastering the Life Plan
The Essential Steps to Achieving Great Health and a Leaner, Stronger, and Sexier Body
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Table of Contents
About The Book
In his New York Times bestseller, The Life Plan, Jeffry Life combined proven science with an appealing message—it’s never too late to transform your body. Today, at seventy-five years of age, with an unbelievably toned torso and biceps that even a twenty-something would envy, he’s living proof that his program of exercise, nutrition, and hormone optimization has extraordinarily powerful and lasting results.
In Mastering the Life Plan, Dr. Life distills this bestselling program into a simpler format that men of any age can customize for their individual needs. Offering new exercises in all fitness domains, meal plans and recipes that make weight loss a breeze, the latest information on hormone optimization, new success stories, and much, much more, this book is the key to achieving a happy, youthful, sexually satisfying life. And for those who already follow his regimen, Dr. Life offers groundbreaking new advice for the “next step.”
Mastering the Life Plan is essential for every man looking to take charge of his health now and for the future. Says entrepreneur and life coach Anthony Robbins, “Dr. Life lives and breathes a paradigm of health, vitality, and fitness—men everywhere would be smart to follow his example.”
Excerpt
Introduction: Taking Control of Your Health
PART ONE
MASTERING THE LIFE PLAN FOR HEALTHY EATING
CHAPTER 1
The Life Plan Philosophy
CHAPTER 2
The Life Plan Diets
CHAPTER 3
My Favorite Foods
Breakfast
Yogurt Breakfast Crunch (Bhd, Fbd, Hhd)
Vegan Breakfast Skillet (Bhd, Fbd, Hhd)
Cottage Cheese and Fruit Salad (Bhd, Fbd, Hhd)
Poached Egg with Smoked Salmon (Bhd, Fbd)
Lunch
Fresh Mushroom Salad (Bhd, Fbd, Hhd)
Open-Faced Veggie Sandwich (Bhd, Fbd, Hhd)
Mazatlan Shrimp with Salsa (Bhd, Fbd, Hhd)
Tomatoes Stuffed with Chicken Salad (Bhd, Fbd, Hhd)
Dinner
Not So Naked Chicken (Bhd, Fbd)
Quinoa Tabbouleh (Bhd, Fbd, Hhd)
Turkey Stir-Fry (Bhd, Fbd)
Tempeh Tagine (Bhd, Fbd, Hhd)
Shake Variations
Chocolate Peanut Butter Shake
Berry Banana Shake
Blueberry Vanilla Shake
Strawberry Banana Protein Shake
Chocolate Almond Protein Shake
Chocolate Almond Peanut Butter Shake
Ultimate Breakfast Protein Shake
CHAPTER 4
Supplementing the Life Plan Diets
PART TWO
MASTERING THE LIFE PLAN WORKOUTS
CHAPTER 5
The Life Plan Flexibility, Core, and Balance Workout
Dr. Life’s Pilates Routine
Exercise 1: Hamstring Stretch
Exercise 2: Piriformis Stretch
Exercise 3: Standing Quad Stretch
Exercise 4: Quad Stretch
Exercise 5: Double Leg Circles
Exercise 6: Adductor Stretch
Exercise 7: It Band Stretch
Exercise 8: Full Roll-Up
Exercise 9: Supine Ab Series
Exercise 10: Single Leg Extension for Abs
Exercise 11: Double Leg Extension for Abs
Exercise 12: Back Extensions
Exercise 13: Lunges
Traditional Balance Exercises
Step up Balance
Single Leg Balance
Single Leg Squat
Single Leg Toe Touch
Core/Abdominal Training
Plank
Opposite Arm Leg Reach
Supermans
CHAPTER 6
The Life Plan Resistance-Training Workout
At The Gym Exercise Descriptions
Chest
Dumbbell Bench Chest Press
Machine Chest Press
Incline Dumbbell Bench Press
Decline Dumbbell Bench Press
Machine Fly
Upper Back
Lat Pulldown
Seated Row
Pullups
Middle Back
Barbell Row
Dumbbell Row
Shoulders
Overhead Dumbbell Press
Machine Overhead Press
Dumbbell Lateral Raise
Reverse Fly
Legs
Barbell Squats
Leg Press
Leg Extensions
Seated Leg Curls
Biceps
Preacher Curl
Dumbbell Curl
Barbell Curl
Machine Curl
Triceps
Triceps Pushdown
Dumbbell Overhead Extension
Weighted Dips
Core
Ab Machine
The Life Plan Resistance Home/Travel Workout
Plank Opposite-Arm-Leg Reach
Abdominal Crunch
Quadruped Opposite-Arm-Leg Reach
Bicycle Crunch
Resistance Band Crunches
Resistance Band One-Arm Flies
Resistance Band Pushups
Resistance Band Lat Pulls
Resistance Band Rear Delt Fly
Resistance Band One-Arm Rear Fly Lateral Raise
Resistance Band Overhead Press
Resistance Band Squats
Resistance Band Lunges
Resistance Band Side Steps
Resistance Band Triceps Extensions
Resistance Band Biceps Curls
CHAPTER 7
The Life Plan Cardio Workout
The Post-Cardio Static Stretch Routine
Neck Stretch
Upper Back Stretch
Shoulder Stretch
Thoracic Spine Stretch
Lower Back Stretch
Hip Flexor Stretch
Quad Stretch
Outer Thigh Stretch
Adductor Stretch
Calf Stretch
CHAPTER 8
Mastering the Life Plan Journal
PART THREE
MASTERING THE LIFE PLAN FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE
CHAPTER 9
Hormone Optimization: The Absolute Truth
CHAPTER 10
The Life Plan and Your Doctor
CHAPTER 11
Getting Better Every Year
Acknowledgments
About Jeffry S. Life, MD, PhD
References
Index
Mastering the Life PLan Introduction: Taking Control of Your Health
In the time since my first book came out in 2010 a lot has changed. I went from being a relatively obscure person—known mostly for being “that old guy in those health ads”—to having a national best-selling book, appearing on television and in print magazines, and even being featured coast to coast in the New York Times as well as the Los Angeles Times in the same week. I’m proud of my program and the scrutiny it has been put under, and I’m even more proud of the thousands of men who have taken the first step toward better health by following it.
Yet at the same time, there are far too many men out there whose overall health has remained unchanged. The vast majority of men are still sitting around watching TV after work, being couch potatoes (or mouse potatoes), and eating poorly and gaining body fat, especially around their bellies. These men still haven’t gotten the message that “end of the day fatigue” is not caused by their job, but by their lack of exercise, poor nutrition, and probable hormone deficiencies, putting them at risk not only for compromising their quality of life, but also for disease.
Meanwhile, the economy here and all around the world has tanked, and though we’re successfully fighting our way out of a terrible recession, the biggest losers have been men. Simply put, our position in the workplace is plummeting. The majority of people who lost their jobs during the economic downturn were men, and women have been more likely to be rehired. For the first time in American history the balance of the workforce has tipped toward women. And sadly, many of the men trained for traditional heavy-lifting jobs in construction, factory work, and warehouses are still on the sidelines.
I know just as well as anyone that when you’re not feeling well and you’ve been hit by any kind of psychological blow, whether your house is upside down or you’ve lost your job, you can’t perform as well as you used to in any aspect of your life. These upsets can cause you to fall into a downward spiral of depression and poor health. So it shouldn’t be a surprise that the biggest complaint that men have when they come to see me is that they’ve lost their energy. Yet one thing I have learned is that as men, we can’t provide for our families unless we start taking care of ourselves.
In order for men to really succeed in today’s tough environment, we have to do better. We need to be high-energy people with a more youthful appearance, and be able to maintain our health and enthusiasm for life as we age. The best way to do this is by staying healthy and fit and lean, and not finding ourselves on the couch, which is a direct path to obesity, poor health, Type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.
The Life Plan is all about recapturing your vital energy and maintaining it as you get older. By mastering my program, you can turn your health around and find that zest for life, whether that means regaining your sexual function or finding your competitive edge in the workplace. You’ll find that your renewed energy permeates every aspect of your life, including your relationship with your significant other and relationships with your kids, your grandkids, and your peers.
When you’re physically taking care of yourself and you have more energy to do the things that you want to do, and to have the relationships you want to have, it naturally improves your mood and makes you more productive. More energy even makes your thinking better, which is becoming more crucial in today’s world. The fact is that the jobs of the future are not physical jobs, they’re thinking jobs, many of which women may be intrinsically better at. The bottom line is that taking care of your body is helping you take care of your ability to think, your ability to maintain focus, and your ability to succeed.
What’s New?
If this is your first introduction to the Life Plan, then welcome! My philosophy, which I live and breathe, is that it’s never too late to reverse disease, improve health, and see lasting change. I hope that you’ll use this book to learn the basics behind the science of my program so that you can begin your own transformation.
Overall, Mastering the Life Plan lets you get ready for my program in smaller, simpler steps. In this new book I’ve outlined exactly what I do every day to stay in great shape. This streamlined version takes much of the Chinese menu approach out of the plan, and instead provides a single, comprehensive diet and exercise program. So if you have been following the program, you can use this book as a way to keep motivated, especially if you are away from home for extended periods of time.
When I wrote The Life Plan, my goal was to give men all the information they would need to turn their health around. What surprised me most was how much the media wanted to talk about the concepts of hormone replacement therapies for men. And as each day goes by, I’m still called for my opinion on this aspect of my program, by other doctors, the media, and regular folks just like you. In this book, I’ll delve much deeper into the controversy of hormone replacement therapies. You’ll have access to the most recent medical studies on the topic, proper dosages, necessary testing, and even more ways to naturally create testosterone, growth hormone, and many of the other necessary hormones on your own. In short, you’ll have everything you need to make an informed decision about your health and to have the tools you need to discuss this with your own physician.
This book will also show you how to work the health-care system to make sure that you are getting the care you need. As with any other wellness plan, you’ll want to talk to your doctor before you start my program. Let him or her understand that you are interested in a healthy lifestyle that is meant to increase metabolism, prevent disease, and reverse aging. Together, you can join the revolution of healthy aging. Inside this book you’ll find a comprehensive list of the medical testing you need at every annual physical, as well as careful instructions on how to get the most out of every doctor visit. This will help you create a wealth of baseline information that you can use to stay vital as you age and limit your exposure to “surprise” illnesses. These “early warning” tests can be used to prevent or delay their onset.
If you’ve already read The Life Plan and enjoyed the success you’ve achieved on the plan, you’ll find that this book makes following the Life Plan even easier. This book includes many more recipes, along with meal plans and shopping lists that any man can manage. Over the past two years I’ve also discovered how easy it is to get the right nutrition through nutrient-rich shakes. I’ve created my own line of shakes that have been specifically formulated to fit the dietary needs of men, and recipes for them are included in these pages. Better still, the shakes are so delicious and easy to prepare that you can make them right at home. You’ll also learn how to flavor them so that they don’t becoming boring. I’ve also included my best tips and tricks for eating out, especially if you are a frequent traveler. Finally, there is a list of the top supplements you should consider taking, depending on your health and your diet.
I’ve also streamlined the exercise program so that you can learn how to exercise exactly the way I do. This book features one full resistance training workout that is based on what I do every day. I’ve focused my new cardiovascular program on spinning. The combination of spinning, my LifeCycle stationary bicycle, and swimming is how I’ve been getting my aerobic workout in over the past year. The balance/flexibility workout is streamlined so that you can get all three of these types of exercise into your day more easily. For each of these three core areas of fitness, I’ve also included brand-new workouts for you to do right at home if you don’t belong to a gym, or when you’re on the road. So there are absolutely no excuses: You can read this book and start exercising today!
How This Book Works
I like to think of this book as a jumpstart to the Life Plan. Once you’ve mastered the Life Plan, you can move on to the more individualized program that I created in my first book. The book you are reading now is meant to get you up to speed and give you all the tools you need to begin to restore your health.
Part One throws you right into my three-level eating program so you can begin to reverse disease, such as obesity, heart disease, or diabetes, or avoid it entirely. This is not your wife’s diet, or your girlfriend’s. These diets were created by me, specifically for men, so don’t worry: You’ll feel satisfied after every meal.
Part Two outlines my unique exercise program, which incorporates every facet of physical fitness, including cardiovascular workouts, resistance training, and balance and stretching exercises based on the Pilates method and martial arts. My Life Plan is different from any other exercise program because it focuses on combining these three core exercise components, what I call the Mighty Three. By doing these types of exercise in combination throughout your week, you will be able to see results quickly, and continue with the program forever. There are dozens of new photographs so that you can follow the directions and watch me complete the exercises, making sure that you are using correct form every time. I’ve also included a method for you to track your progress for the entire Life Plan.
Part Three gives you everything you need in order to follow the Life Plan for the rest of your life. First, you’ll learn about the importance of correcting hormone deficiencies based on the results I’ve seen in my own life and my medical practice, as well as in peer-reviewed, evidence-based scientific studies. Then, you’ll learn how to get the most out of every doctor’s visit so that you won’t be a hostage to the risk-management model of medicine. Instead, you’ll master healthy aging just as if you were in my office.
By following this program, you should start noticing changes in the first two weeks. All it takes is making up your mind to get off the couch. If I can master this type of lifestyle, any man can. So let’s take the first steps together, where you can begin to understand not just what you are going to do for the rest of your life, but why.
Product Details
- Publisher: Atria Books (June 24, 2014)
- Length: 304 pages
- ISBN13: 9781451699029
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Raves and Reviews
“A TRUE EXPERT”
– Bill Phillips, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Body-for-LIFE and founder of Transformation.com
"Jeff's book is life-changing...a fabulous read."
– Suzanne Somers, New York Times bestselling author of The Sexy Years
"Since I've been under the care of Dr. Life, my goal of living a productive life until at least 100 seems possible. My overall health has improved dramatically and I look and feel many years younger. I've recommended Dr. Life to all of my friends."
– Rick Barry, member of the Basketball Hall of Fame and an NBA All-time Top 50 Player
“Dr. Jeff Life lives and breathes a paradigm of health, vitality, and fitness—men everywhere would be smart to follow his example.”
– Anthony Robbins, Entrepreneur, Author & Peak Performance Strategist
“Exercise and nutrition are the paths to feeling and looking good. Dr. Life’s book explains his methods in easy-to-understand terms, and his physique and mind proves that it works."
– Lawrence A. Golding, PhD., FACSM, Exercise Physiologist, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
“Achieving and maintaining balance is the primary goal in my life. That is why I follow the expertise of Dr. Life.”
– Cesar Millan, TV Star and Dog Behaviorist
Resources and Downloads
High Resolution Images
- Book Cover Image (jpg): Mastering the Life Plan Trade Paperback 9781451699029
- Author Photo (jpg): Jeffry S. Life Photograph by Dennis Lane(8.4 MB)
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