Dr. Serrano interview 2006 Part 1

 Dr. Serrano tell us about your background as a nutrition expert.

Ok I started manipulating diets with patients during medical school.  As a doctor you are trained to understand many things as they relate to health, but the focus of the training is not to improve body composition or performance.  I had to develop this expertise on my own with trial and error.  You name it, I have tired it in some form another with patients.  As long as I do not think something is dangerous, I will give it a try.

Over the years I have learned a great deal, there have been many more successes than failures and after practicing 20 + years I can help people earn the results they desire.

I gather you are keeping very busy these days?

Extremely, I rarely take new patients since I am so busy and the phones are still ringing off the hook.  Some new cases come my way that are of interest as I like new challenges.  I also dedicate a lot of time to research which leaves less time recently.

How is it that you became so well known around the country?

I can help people earn great results when others have failed.  It seems that people who do well want to tell everyone within 100 square miles.  Each day my secretary delivers phone messages and I pile up the ones that are from people I do not know for return calls.  Some times my wife will go through them and tell me who they are.  She is a big sports fan so she recognizes the names.  Tons of pro athletes and a lot of singers lately have called for help. 

What is it that you do that is so much different?

Different from what?  Other doctors? Nutritionists? Trainers?  That would take all day.  I am not using different methods for the sake of being different; I use what is in the best interests of the patient.  This goes back to my research, after helping so many thousands of people I know what to do in 99% of situations to help people earn the results they are after.  In some cases these people are pretty desperate and I enjoy seeing them succeed. 

The other 1 % can take some time to solve, but I never give up on a patient. 

Back to your question- I look at the whole picture and account for many variables. This is a demanding process, but I will not go half way.  It is just my nature to do things right.  One area that is often neglected is hormones; they govern progress in many ways.  You must understand what the unique combination of hormones means and how to act. 

Where are most people going wrong when it comes to nutrition?

This is a broad question, but I would say most do not apply themselves correctly; they have a concept to go by, but not all of the right details in place to get the job done.  There are many effective nutrition programs out there for various goals and situations, but you must find the right one for your needs.  I think people should seek help from an expert like you Scott so they can ensure they are making the most of their hard work.  The methods used are more important than the work ethic in many cases.  There are no shortage of hard working people who fail to reach their goals, their problem is the methods used.  Most people will need a major change in strategy.

Are there any particular plans out there that you like or do not like?

So many it is hard to keep track of in the fat loss arena, but I will tell you there are more bad than good unfortunately.  Advertising creates a lot of unrealistic expectations for people.  They are led to believe they just need to follow the “easy” routine and they will see great results.  Well at times this can be the case, but usually there is more to it.  People with a very high body fat % can lose a significant amount of body weight quickly, but others who are in a more normal range must be more patient.  Patience is a rare commodity in society today.

You and I worked very hard to develop the Zero Tolerance Fat Loss system and I have seen the results in my office and around the country to prove that it is very effective.  The plan seems very simple, but it is so advanced yet simple if you catch my drift.  Now I am not going to guarantee that you will earn great results.  People have to use the plan consistently and give it time to do it’s job.  I suggest people read the article and send questions to Scott, as he is well versed in adjusting the routine to help people earn the best results. 

I do not want to dive too far into the science right now because I know you have a lot of questions on your script.

The system is very flexible; it was built with busy people in mind.  You can spread out the meals and the timing of supplements to fit your needs and earn great results.  The Zero Tolerance Fat Loss system  addresses all of the major pit falls which knock progress off course.

You put it best when we were at the NY seminar last spring when you said you have never had anyone follow the plan for a month or more who was not a lot better off when they started.  I have experienced the same results with my patients and I have found that the longer they use it- 10-12 weeks, the better the results especially with the people who are aiming for a single digit body fat %. 

What nutrition route do you suggest for those wanting to gain lean Muscle?

Ah well you know I like to be specific and general guideline are tough to give, but guys trying to pack on size need to eat more real food and use fewer shakes.  Protein levels are rarely the problem when I review diets, but a lack of good fats is typical. Remember that good fats are a precursor to testosterone.  Many important nutrients exist within foods that you cannot get anywhere else. 

The most important factor is pre and post workout nutrition.  You must provide the right raw materials to improve performance and lay the ground work for new muscle. Beyond providing the right stuff you must make sure it is available to muscles when needed most.  this takes some effort and you must have the right tools to do the job.   A great deal of conflicting information exists on the topic, but the Workout Nutrition article I helped you with settles the debate once and for all! 

What are the best ways to gauge progress?

Those who get on the scale or scrutinize in the mirror daily will drive themselves crazy.  I would not get on the scale more than twice per month as the readings do not tell you much.  Consistent body fat % testing is important as it tells you if the weight lost or gained is fat or lean muscle mass.  The individual sites tell you a lot, for example if all of the sites go down except the mid section, cortisol and insulin are high.  This can be addressed with certain adjustments to the training, nutrition and supplementation program.  This is where an expert’s help is so important.  Making use of data is absolutely vital. 

Many women are scared to death of gaining “too much muscle” what are your feelings on this?

I battle this as well, women think they will pick up a weight and overnight they will be huge like a female bodybuilder.  Believe me no woman is going to accidentally make those types of changes. Most women would benefit from gaining more lean muscle to support normal health and metabolism.  Remember that each new pound of muscle accounts for a great deal of calorie burning each year.  An easy way to stay lean is gain some lean muscle mass over time.  This also results in a firmer appearance which is more desirable for women.

The women who concentrate on weight loss without a regard of body fat % will lose a great deal of muscle and gradually slow metabolism.  These are the ones that show up in my office crying about how they have worked so hard, but are gaining body fat.  Well the body is fighting for survival as many are over exercising and under eating.  They screwed themselves and at that point I have to undo the mess which takes some time.  What really pisses me off is that I warn these people at seminars, in meetings etc and they do not listen.  Some have to learn the hard way I guess.

Who are the most difficult people to help?

Many people dig a hormonal hole, like the above example.  In the case of the above she will have a low metabolic rate for obvious reasons, but the hormones which are helpful in gaining lean body mass and reducing body fat will also be depressed.  It will take some time just to revive those markers and get back to baseline.  A specific comprehensive program must be assembled to get her back to baseline or she will continue to struggle.  I see many cases like this and I know you see many as well.  It can take just as much time to undo the problems as it did to create them. 

This is a point I aim to make with all people, do not expect your body to respond fantastically the first month of a routine if you have been abusing the system.  Now in many cases people come to me after months or years of bad eating. Their insulin levels which play a big role in the fat storage process will be very high.  It will take time for things to normalize, as you call it Scott to build metabolic momentum.  The body thrives off of consistency assuming you are doing the right things.

People who have dug a hole must be more patient and usually after realizing the facts they are.  those who are resistant to change will fail, they want to revert back to old methods that have not worked because change is uncomfortable.  I do not have time for those people any more as they just drain the life out of you.  They do not do what you tell them and expect me to find an answer.  I am done with that.

What do you do for those who have a plan that worked in the past, but does not seem to be as effective now?

Great question, this happens a frequently. People must realize that a regimen that was effective before may not work again. Conditions change from many stand points including stress, age, health, sleep patterns, exercise habits etc.  Remember also that the body is very smart and wants to be very efficient, in this regard the brain will expend less calories and stored fat to get the job done if the stimuli are the same all of the time.  It is well accepted that you must change training programs every 3-6 weeks depending on experience level etc, well diet must also change frequently no matter what your goals.  Less often than training perhaps, but some people use the same nutrition plan all year round and that is a big mistake.

Embrace change, if you do not, you will never improve beyond your current levels of success.  Now do not make changes for the hell of it, there must be method to the madness.  This is where you need to find an expert who can analyze your situation and assemble the right program for you.

Can you expand on the reasons to change diet frequently?

Sure they body gets used to certain patterns, you have to change the stimuli just like training.  We want to avoid adaptation to a degree. Food sources must be rotated to avoid food allergies.  You cannot eat the same items over and over again, there must be variety.  Macronutrient %’s must also change.  This is a topic we do not have time for today, but it is very important.  Consider your macronutrient %’s your sets and reps that you can manipulate to create a better or different result.  Again someone who knows what they are doing must put this type of nutrition plan together.  There must be method to the madness.

How do you deal with people who are never happy with their progress?

It is ok to be demanding as long as the person recognizes that they are in the drivers seat and can control their own destiny, those who are always making excuses will not be successful.

I analyze their records; I want to see nutrition, training, life style info, anything that I can get my hands on within reason.  If there are no records that makes things much more difficult, in general if some cannot take down some notes for a few minutes a week, they are not very committed to the goal.  I am not talking about a detailed account of each day, but a weekly summary.

I often find that people can apply themselves better to several elements to accelerate results.  At a certain point you can only do so much and results will take time.  I can rarely predict how quickly someone is going to obtain a certain result.  There are so many factors and genetics dictate so much.  Those who are looking for a long term results, must be willing to make a long term investment.  This does not mean their life must revolve around training and diet, but they cannot expect to screw up one week out of 2 and expect to be successful.  I think that is common sense.

 Rarely do I find someone has run out of things that they can improve.  Instead of blaming other sources, people should consider how they can do a better job.  There needs to be more accountability with oneself as this results in a better mental outlook.  People must understand that their actions are tremendously important. 

Where do most people screw up?

I train at home usually, but at times I will go to a local gym and will take some time to observe people training.  Too many are socializing; they take too long between sets and have poor focus during training.  The intensity is sub optimal in many cases and that is going to limit progress.  Those who train with proper intensity usually are doing much by way of volume.  They are influenced by routines they see in different places with a lot of sets.  You have to match the ability to recover from training to the routine.  If this equation gets out of balance, the person is heading for Over Training.

Evaluating routines from the population at large, design is poor in many cases.  There is a limited amount of training information in the public domain as concepts are presented in bits and pieces.  The bigger picture is obstructed at times, people need an expert to put together the right routine for their needs and to follow up with future routines that build on the foundation.  Elements of improvement are vital even if the trainee is not going after strength or muscle size gains.  Too many people seeking improved rates of fat loss think that just working out will do the trick. There is more to it; you can accelerate fat loss a great deal with the right routine. You remember that lady I sent you 2 months ago- Jenny T?  Her latest body comp test show a 2 fold increase in fat loss and the only change was the training program adjustments you sent her.  Having the right routine which is coordinated with diet, supplements, recovery elements etc is very powerful. 

When I ask a patient to go through a diet often times they say that they follow the plan during the week and on the weekends things break down.  I explore further and find that the weekend has been a non stop binge.  No one can expect to be successful when they sabotage themselves for 2 full days of the week. 

 What about those who constantly compare themselves to celebrities, or even their neighbor who gets great results doing x- why can’t I?

 People should not compare themselves to celebrities or pro athletes etc.  These people have certain genetic gifts that make it much easier for them.  That is just how things go and life is not fair!  However I would not get depressed about this as you cannot change genetic code.  Work with what you have.  My point is – pick up a magazine and see a diet of x super model in an article, it is highly unlikely they are actually following that plan.  Usually it is an invention of the editorial staff.  Be careful of what you read and hear from certain media outlets. 

 See part 2 of the interview

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