Welcome to the positive corner of the internet. Every weekday, we make sense of the confusing world of wellness by analyzing the headlines, simplifying the latest research, and offering quick tips designed to make you healthier in less than 5 minutes. If you were forwarded this message, you can get the free daily email here.
Today’s Health Upgrade
Your money is no good here
Glucose monitors are out of control
The protein bars that aren’t protein bars
How to maximize performance when dieting
Arnold’s Podcast
Want more stories from Arnold? Every day, Arnold’s Pump Club Podcast opens with a story, perspective, and wisdom from Arnold that you won’t find in the newsletter. And, you’ll hear a recap of the day’s items. You can subscribe on Apple, Spotify, Google, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Adam’s Corner
Your Money Is No Good Here
Sixteen years ago, I went on a second date with a girl I had met for the first time the night before. Unfortunately, I was dead broke. But the first date was so good that I “broke the rules” and asked to see her again. We went out to dinner, and she ordered paella…and added lobster. Meanwhile, I started calculating how many more dates would qualify me for welfare.
When dinner ended, my date said she wanted to stay out and go to a movie.
On one hand, an additional cost could push up a potential eviction date. On the other hand, after our first date ended, I called my best friend and told him I met my future wife. In my mind, you don’t let a little thing like potential homelessness get in the way of love.
We went to the movie—my first movie in years—and I couldn’t believe how much everything cost.
To this day, I don’t know if my date could see me daydreaming of dumpster diving for leftover food, but she offered to pay for the movie.
Inside my head, I jumped for joy and felt the sigh of financial relief.
But in my heart, I knew what I had to do.
It didn’t matter if my date could pay. As I later discovered, she made much more money than me. She was independent and impressive, and that only added to the attraction.
However, I wanted to treat my date because I asked her out. Principles are principles.
So I looked her in the eye and calmly said,
“Your money is no good here.”
Even though her money would have been very good at that moment,
Little did I know it, those six words changed my life.
As I would find out later, since she was a teenager, my date told people, “The first person who tells me ‘Your money is no good here’ is the man I will marry.
All of her friends told her she was crazy. After all, no one says that.
Yet, in that moment of principle and passion, I said it.
And, as crazy as it might sound, I married her. Sixteen years and three kids later, I’ve never been happier about my financial stupidity.
To this day, “your money is no good here” is not only a symbol of chance, hope, and love but also of the importance of having principles.
So why am I sharing this with all of you?
Because we do things differently here in the positive corner of the internet.
Every month, dozens of sponsors knock on our doors, offering us money to promote their products. One supplement company even came knocking with a seven-figure check—and we said no.
If we wanted to maximize revenue, we’d do every deal. But the Pump Club is about making you better every day.
There’s a lot of nonsense out there, and when we recommend something — either as a partnership or just because we love it (we recommended the majority of our sponsors before we do any partnership) — we want you to know that it’s not just an advertisement, it’s a stamp of approval.
After rejecting so many different potential sponsors, we realized something: if you only see the good partners, you don’t know how to avoid the less-than-stellar options.
So, moving forward, we’ll occasionally share products and services we turn down and the reasons we don’t believe they are worth your time or money.
We’ll call these segments Your Money Is No Good Here.
By showing you the evidence of why we think something doesn’t work, you can save more money and time, and have an easier time focusing on the things that do.
The first installment is below. We hope you find this transparent and helpful.
Your Money Is No Good Here
Your Glucose Monitor Is Lying to You
Is new technology helping you eat better or giving you a false sense of what your body needs?
If you’re using a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) to track your blood sugar, new research suggests that CGMs tend to overestimate glucose levels.
In other words, your CGM readings could be way off depending on how you use it. And this isn’t the first time it’s been revealed that CGMs have inconsistent results. It’s why we’ve rejected partnership opportunities from two different CGM brands.
In a randomized crossover trial, researchers analyzed how accurately CGMs tracked blood glucose levels compared to reference lab measurements. They had participants undergo different postprandial tests—meaning they examined glucose levels after meals and various conditions—to see how CGM readings compared to blood sugar levels.
The study found that CGMs consistently overestimated blood glucose levels, but the level of bias wasn’t consistent. The discrepancy varied depending on the type of test and the individual, suggesting that factors like metabolism, meal composition, and even individual physiology might influence how the CGM interprets glucose levels.
This doesn’t mean that all CGMs are worthless. They can be helpful for people with diabetes (which is often a different grade of technology), and they could have uses moving forward. But, at this time, the technology needs to improve to be more accurate. So, if you're using a CGM to manage your diet or blood sugar or adjust what you eat, don’t take the numbers at face value. Instead, you’d need to test your blood for a more accurate glucose response.
And remember, it’s normal for your blood glucose to fluctuate after a meal. The problem isn’t a spike but whether your blood sugar remains elevated for many hours after a meal.
Together With David
Not All Bars Are Protein Bars
Last week, more than 20,000 people clicked on one story because they couldn’t believe what we revealed.
Most protein bars are not, in fact, protein bars – they are glorified candy bars that use clever marketing to make it seem like you’re eating something nutritious.
We analyzed the ten bars purchased the most on Amazon, and only one had protein listed as the first ingredient.
That doesn’t mean protein bars are bad; it just means you must be selective and choose bars with lower calories, higher protein, and less sugar.
Whole foods should make up the majority of your meals. But we also realize that life is busy and protein bars can be a convenient way to stay on track when you don’t have time to cook a meal.
If you want a great high protein bar – that’s actually a protein bar – meet David. They call it “the final protein bar.” We call it a protein bar that delivers and stays true to its name.
David is unlike anything we’ve seen before in the protein category.
High Protein, Zero Sugar: 28 grams of protein, 150 calories, and 0 grams sugar. With 75 percent of its calories from protein, it’s 50% higher than the next closest protein bar.
Complete Amino Acid Profile: A blend of diverse protein sources creates a perfect 1.0 Protein Digestibility-Corrected Amino Acid Score (PDCAAS), making it ideal for muscle building and overall health.
No Wasted Calories: Hit your protein goals without consuming unnecessary calories, sugar, or fillers.
David is the perfect on-the-go solution for anyone who struggles to eat enough protein and needs a convenient option. You can check out all their bars here, including their newest flavors.
Nutrition
How To Maximize Performance When Dieting
When you cut calories, you can normally expect a performance drop.
However, a new study suggests that if you’re trying to lose fat, a slight dietary adjustment to your carb intake could help ensure that only your weight — and not your workouts — experience a decline.
Participants underwent a controlled calorie deficit while engaging in physical activity, with some strategically timing their carbohydrates. They compared eating 20 percent fewer calories, 40 percent fewer calories, and 60 percent fewer calories for a week.
Some participants were given 80 grams of carbs before and during their workout while still maintaining the calorie deficit.
Despite eating fewer calories, those bumping up their carb intake didn’t see a significant drop in workout performance, suggesting that your carb timing can help offset lower calories.
If you want to lose weight and perform at your best, it might be worth experimenting with your carb intake to make your diet more manageable and your workouts better.
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Publisher: Arnold Schwarzenegger
Editors-in-chief: Adam Bornstein and Daniel Ketchell
