About

MP: Mr. Dodier, thank you for taking this interview with us. You just released your new book "Live Your Way Fit". Can you just summarize the important concepts of "Live Your Way Fit" to our readers?

 

MD: To me the greatest tragedy for any human is to live without purpose. My book guides the reader through the process of creating a vision for their life and the steps required to achieve it. To become positive and develop self-esteem, every one of us should have a life plan that includes a fitness regimen and a vision of what we want to do with our life. A fitness plan includes an exercise routine, diet program, and life goal. Whatever the goal, you will have greater success if you are healthy, fit, organized, and positive. Easier said than done? I believe that any person, who has desire and determination, can make their dreams a reality.

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Everyone desires to be healthy and fit. Have you ever met a single person who said their goal was to be unhealthy? Yet, so many people today are obese and falling victim to what we call the diseases of civilization. These diseases include obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer. The diseases of civilization exploded when our diets changed and people began to increase their consumption of sugars, simple carbohydrates, High Fructose Corn Syrup, and Trans Fats. We know that simple exercise and proper nutrition can prevent or reverse these diseases; yet, more and more people fall victim in ever increasing numbers.

The problem is that most people do not really know what to do or how to change their habits. And once they learn what to do, they lack the motivation to start or stick to it.

I have trained hundreds of people over the past 35 years and I have come to learn that if any person had a motivational personal trainer for 3 months, they would get hooked for life. Why? Without getting into the concepts of neural plasticity, it takes generally 3 months to change a thought process: to create or break a habit. People need guidance; they need to change their negative attitude towards exercise from drudgery and hard work to one of enjoyment that will generate positive results. My book takes the reader on this journey.

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MP: So, how does one develop the cognitive ability and impetus to create his own dream and vision? Overall, what can they gain from reading your book?

MD: Good question! How do you turn dreams into reality? Every successful person starts with an idea of what he or she wants to achieve. In order to manifest that idea into a finished product, business, or record-breaking personal achievement; you need to turn that vision into reality. Dreams are met by setting specific goals and creating a plan, step by step, to achieve your goal. Goal setting will have a major impact on your success.

Changing behavior is hard, especially habits. How do we stop the old habits and create new, more productive habits? The first step is in understanding how the brain works. How many people really believe they will succeed? It all begins with the mind.

Your personal success is not predicated solely on your intelligence or genetic characteristics. Success is the consequence of discipline, desire, action, and thinking. We all have genetic potential, but we can get smarter and stronger through better mental and physical training. You may not match Albert Einstein or Michael Jordan, but you can reach your own maximum genetic potential.

There is a scientific term for our ability to change the way we think by replacing the old neural connections with new ones referred to as neural plasticity. What this means on a purely cellular level, without getting too technical, repeated experience (habits, good or bad) can change the way the brain works. This is how you can become an even better person and change the habits that are holding you back.

The rare few who approach their workouts with the “I’m capable of accomplishing anything” attitude will develop discipline. With this great positive attitude and discipline, they will reach their goal. Believing they will succeed and accomplishing their goals will become a source of inspiration. They will gather knowledge and discover that it comes down to attitude, action, habits, discipline, and, most importantly, changing the way they think. Every one of us has the ability to change.

My book, “Living Your Way Fit” explains the process of change in very simple terms and easy steps.

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​MP: That thought process is certainly revolutionary. Explain what motivated you to put your philosophy into writing.

MD: I have been exercising for over 35 years. I was a competitive power lifter and studied martial arts most of my life. Over all of these years, I studied and observed the process of physical fitness and muscular development. My primary interest was learning about how the body works and how to slow down the aging process. I studied what makes people happy and what holds people from setting and obtaining their goals and dreams. Also as head of a National Sales Force and business owner, I had to understand human behavior.

There were two things that really motivated me to write this book. The first came from the success of my training principles as they were applied to my own son. Jason went from a thin little guy to a national power lifting champion. As a result of my training he became so positive and loaded with self esteem that he graduated at the top of his class. A friend of mine, (Dr. John Femino MD) working with teenagers in drug and alcohol treatment said that my message needed to be heard and I should write a book.
 
The second reason and most profound reason is the state of health in America. So many people are sick and tired and need a path to fitness and better health. I want to motivate as many people as possible, but I cannot personally train that many people. A book that is easy to follow would be the best way to touch more lives.

I have helped many people to lose weight, develop strength and muscle, and regain their health. I enjoy that very much, but “Living Your Way Fit” is more than building the perfect body. It’s about the balance of life. Mind, body, and spiritual development will get you physically, emotionally, and financially fit. A life needs purpose and my desire is to help people map out the most productive life. You cannot achieve anything important if you do not have health, fitness, and an attitude of gratitude.           
If you want to eliminate the excuses that will keep you down, follow a simple rule and stop talking about your excuse. The more you talk about what holds you back, the more likely you are to reinforce these thoughts.

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MP: Mr. Dodier, after having several conversations with you, including this one, you are obviously an intellectual and a very powerful teacher who can immediately translate a thought into action. What inspires you to help others?

MD: Many people live in fear their whole life and it limits their ability to fulfill their dreams. We all face difficulties in our life. Some people face greater hardships than others. When I was a teenager I had what I thought was the most traumatic experience but instead of being defeated it gave me an insight into human potential. I discovered the simple fact that human beings can experience something magnificent, powerful, and threatening without pain, guilt, or fear. Instead of letting my trauma cloud my mind, and drag me down, I experienced clarity. Clarity is not something that can be developed like our physical skills. Clarity is limitless and infinite. With my new perspective, I began to realize that this world is not such a scary place. It became clear that the mind is the source of all experience and by changing the direction of my thoughts; I could enhance the quality of everything I experienced.

I began a quest to understand what it would take for people to live their way fit. I began to realize that people feel pain, loneliness, anxiety, and fear no matter how much they have accumulated in wealth and material possession. When people focus on material progress or sexual pleasure (for example) at the expense of internal development, they suffer deep emotional conflicts. They fail to create the understanding required to deal with their emotions. I am not suggesting that we should not create wealth, or enjoy our sexuality, but people who have an abundance of possessions often create so many distractions that they lose their internal connection. That is why it is critical to maintain a balanced development of mind, emotion, body, and spirit.

I am inspired by helping people meet their human potential. This is what gets me fired up!

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MP: Well the list certainly goes on with your accomplishments and your mental attitude definitely has propelled your career. You are a very well respected person in the business community as well, advancing from computer engineering to a sales executive in your earlier years, and then creating a software company in New York City that went public. What advice would you give others who have dreams of being successful?

MD: I never saw myself as successful because I set really lofty goals for myself. This is not such a good thing because you will never be satisfied. Like the guy who wants to be Mr. Olympia. There can only be one and trying to develop a Mr. O physique can lead to physical and emotional issues. When I was taking my company public in the year 2000, it was after nearly going bankrupt. It was one of the most difficult experiences one can imagine. My business partner and I faced the possibility of losing everything.

I learned some great lessons from this near disaster. The first was resiliency and the ability to overcome difficulty with hard work and flexibility. My business partner and I had to admit that our present direction was flawed and needed to be corrected. We had to quickly create a new plan and stick to it. We turned our situation around in less than eight months. Easier said than done, but after you go through something like this it gets easier the next time. And, oh yes, there will always be a next time.

The next piece of advice is to enjoy the experience of life and not to make such over-reaching demands on your self. I wanted to make enough money that I could retire young and go to Harvard and get an MBA. Did I need a Harvard MBA? No, but what does the ego have to do with reality. When we took our company public we hired a Harvard trained attorney and a Harvard MBA as our advisers. I realized that I did not have to be the smartest and best educated person in the room. I just needed to surround myself with the best people possible and create the right vision and leadership. If you are to develop one thing, beyond strength and muscle, it is integrity that should be king.  

Just be grateful for your life and you will be blessed.

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MP: You are obviously a firm believer that mind, body, and spirit are interconnected features. What makes these so interrelated and how does improving one area in your life help augment the others?

MD: How do we raise our spirit? We begin by bringing out something wonderful that is hidden within us. When we rise to new possibilities we become awakened from our spiritual slumber. A journey may not follow a straight path with precise steps, but the most important advice I can share is that you should pay attention to the people around you. All people have opinions and ideas. These opinions are neither good nor bad; just listen attentively without making judgments. Listening is the beginning of growth. What people will tell you may be right and wrong, but arguing is never the way to the truth. In some situations our friends and family can often see us more clearly than we see ourselves. Sometimes they can’t, but think they do. You might be going through a change that may cause you to doubt and question things that you easily accepted in the past. You may be creating an interest in ideas that are new to you and your family. This is often the result of a “Life Change.” Your friends and family may feel threatened or uncomfortable with your change. They may grow concerned out of their own fear and may wish to express what they see. Listening to them may help you to become more aware. The way to a better life is never closed. If you feel that the door to a more spiritual life is closed, you should examine the nature of your belief system.

Life is meant to be enjoyed and shared, but it can be overwhelming. We should accept a duty and responsibility for our life and the people we share it with. It is hard work and we can feel inundated. Our hopes and dreams can seem out of reach, but there is no one to blame. You cannot pin your failures on anyone. You and your family, friends or lover should work together and come to realize your shared interest. What interest? I call it life. Notice that I didn’t say immediate gratification.

Here are (3) things to consider:

1)    If you ignore your family, friends, and lover, you will see that lovers become enemies, friends become strangers, and your children will leave you.
2)    When you point your finger at anyone, you point three fingers at yourself.
3)    Choose your words carefully. Say what you mean, mean what you say, but do not say it meanly.


“As we think and act, so our world becomes.” —The Dhammapadda

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MP: Now that we’ve covered the mind and the spirit aspects, how does physical fitness help improve one’s attitude and way of thinking?

MD: Physical exercise is one of the four pillars of brain fitness, the other three being good nutrition, stress management, and mental stimulation. Exercise gets rid of harmful stress chemicals and boosts problem-solving, planning, and attention. Getting more exercise will help you improve your cognitive functions whether you’re a high school or college student, part of the work force, or an elderly person in retirement.    

Our ability to accomplish any useful task or goal lies in our belief that we are capable of the achievement and that we deserve it. This takes self esteem. Self esteem is the power that keeps our life on the rails and moving full steam ahead. When a human body is in homeostasis (running as nature intended) and we feel at our absolute best, there is nothing that we cannot accomplish.

   I was not healthy as a teenager. I was hypoglycemic and felt miserable every day of my life. I read about Jack LaLanne the fitness guru and realized he suffered from the same things I did when he was fifteen. He turned his health issues around and became a legend. I adopted his lifestyle at sixteen and became a physical and mental dynamo. I realized that a healthy body produces a healthy mind and everything positive stems from this combination of good nutrition and exercise. EVERYTHING!

 

MP: What is your training philosophy like? Do your principles lie solely on weight training or do you incorporate cardio and flexibility as well?

MD: OK, so let’s get into the heart of the matter to your readership. How do you get a jacked physique?

   Volume training does not work. Yes, it may for a little while because anyone beginning to incorporate resistance training is taxing their muscles for the first time and they will respond. But soon the progress slows and then basically stops. Without the use of performance enhancement drugs, which I do not condone (I am into this for health and longevity) working a muscle to failure and resting is the only way.

The well-known "all or nothing" principle of muscular-fiber function states that individual muscle-fibers perform work by contracting, by reducing their length – and that they are incapable of performing various degrees of work; that is to say, they are either working as hard as possible, or not at all. When a light movement is performed, it does not involve a slight effort on the part of a large number of muscular fibers; instead, only the exact number of fibers that are required to perform that particular movement will be involved at all – and they will be working to the limit of their momentary ability. The other, nonworking fibers may get pushed, pulled, or moved about by the movement – but they will contribute absolutely nothing to the work being performed. This is why cardio exercise does not build muscle. Muscle increases your metabolic process and burns fat. If you want to lose fat, and keep it off, you have to develop muscle.

So it becomes clear to all of us who wish to develop our muscles, for what ever purpose, in order to involve all of the muscle fibers in the work, the resistance must be so heavy that all of the fibers are required to move it. Unfortunately with conventional equipment, this is extremely difficult to do; because all of the individual muscle fibers cannot be involved in the work unless the muscle is in a position of full contraction and the resistance is still applied at this point of contraction. Sounds pretty complicated, and it can be difficult or near impossible with conventional equipment. But with the right training partner who helps you do those last few negatives, you will see results that you did not ever see in the past.

I am 54 years old and have the physique of a 28 year old. I work out with weights every 4 days (once or twice a week) for no more than 30 minutes.  My son incorporated this technique and made progressive improvements and never over trained. Think of exercise as a drug…..when you take medicine they give you the MED (Minimum Effective Dose) nothing more or less than you need for the best result. Anyone who takes more or less will suffer in one way or the other. Same thing with muscular development, just do only what is required and nothing more. Those guys who spend hours in the gym are able to because they take drugs that stimulate their development. This will eventually cause them illness. It is counter intuitive to believe that more is better. Without the drugs they would make no gains because their muscles are over-trained and have no ability to recover naturally. Look what happens when they stop the steroid cycle, YIKES!

Work out to maximum intensity with as much weight as possible (without hurting yourself) for a short burst (2 supersets per body part to failure) and go home. Come back to the gym only when you are fully recovered. That is it! You will make gains you never dreamed of.

Some unscientific minds would think that when a muscle is fully contracted all of the muscle fibers contracted at the same time. Although a fully contracted muscle requires all the muscle fibers to shorten at the same time, it does not follow that even at full contraction under a light load all of the muscle fibers will be involved in the work. It is scientifically proven that only the muscle fibers required to meet the load will be called into action. This is great for body movement, not so great for muscular development.

Thus, in order to involve 100% of the fibers in a particular movement, two conditions are required:

1)    The muscle (and its related body part) must be in a position of full contraction  
2)    A load must be imposed in that position that is heavy enough to require the work of all of the individual fibers.

I ride the bike the same way. I do 45 second intervals at full speed and go easy till my heart rate recovers and do it again and again for 15 minutes and go home. Why spend more time in the gym than is required to be super fit and have the physique you want. I use my time for all kinds of productive things and enjoyment. Don’t need to waste it all in the gym……..not kidding. Have a life!

 

MP: I'm blown away by that response. That is probably the most well thought out argument as to why intensity training is king and why the results from volume training are stagnant. I am a big intensity guy as well and it's definitely all about achieving failure. However, for whatever reason, most people don’t understand (or act upon the understanding) that 1) intensity stimulates growth and 2) that growth occurs outside the gym. Consequently, they find themselves mentally incapable of taking a day off from the gym, yet seeing no progress from their dedication. You touched on it briefly in your last response, but discuss the importance of rest and recovery and why you take off so much time from the gym?

MD:  The most important, yet controversial, subject regarding weight training would be the amount of training required for best results. We can narrow down the (6) best exercises, we understand that High Intensity Training (pushing your maximum resistance to complete failure) works best. How frequently you need to train is the sticking point. You may have heard the old expression, "A thousand different experts, a thousand different theories," is almost literally true in this instance.

Let me be clear: almost any amount of the right type of exercise can produce striking results in a very high percentile of test subjects. Almost any individual will show great improvements in both muscular mass and strength within a short time after being placed on a weight training program and a proper diet of balanced nutrition. Results will be produced in most cases regardless of the actual amount of exercise employed, at least for a while.

It is my belief that the “Amount of Exercise” is getting confused with the “Intensity of Exercise.” More is not better, more frequent is also not better. The right exercise taken to total muscle failure (generally 1-2 sets per body part) and 3-4 days rest before the next work out produces incredible results. The key is not how much work as in number of sets and reps per body part, but that you perform the set to failure with maximum intensity.  

Here is the magic bullet: "Best results will always be produced by the minimum amount of exercise that imposes the maximum amount of growth stimulation." And any other exercise that is added to the training routine will actually retard progress. In many cases reducing it by as much as ninety percent (90%), and if carried to extremes, additional exercise will result in losses in both strength and muscular size.

But just what is the minimum amount of exercise (Minimum Effective Dose) that will impose the maximum amount of growth stimulation?

That is the question. This question will probably never be solved to the complete satisfaction of everybody concerned. People get addicted to exercise and want to do more. We have reviewed the scientific evidence to determine just how much exercise is best. For me, it comes down to two supersets per body part to failure and 4 days rest. I grow without any supplements and feel fantastic.

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 MP: There you have it guys: 30 minutes, twice a week, for the best body of your life. Well it seems you’ve mastered the science behind your philosophy. Now, what kind of results did this type of training provide you with? Discuss some of the strength feats you’ve accomplished throughout your life.

MD: You may recall that on my 50th birthday I did a 765 squat to parallel off the rack with 8 plates on each side bending the bar; impressive to the boys in the gym, but not so with my Doctor. He thought that a 190 pound 50 year old guy should not be doing this. I was doing this to demonstrate breathing techniques, not muscular strength.

  When I was 25 years old I did a 415 bench (raw) at a body weight of 165. At 21 years of age I did 32 reps with 225 on the bench at a body weight of 168.  The first power meet I ever attended was judged by the guy who owned the gym I trained at. I won the meet and he did not know I was a power lifter. He saw me as a body builder. He invited me to be his work out partner. I was 20 years old at the time. I refused to train with him because he was a steroid user.

   I could walk an entire quarter mile around the high school track on my hands and held the record for pull ups and muscle ups on the rings. I could do reps in the hundreds.

   I have pulled a 550 dead lift at the body weight of 175. I was always known for being built like a rock. I never aspired to be very big. I have only exceeded 200 pounds a few times in my career.

      I won a push up challenge in high school beating the combined total of 5 guys my age. My total was 660 non stop push ups. Jack LaLanne did 1,023 in 23 minutes, and holds the Guinness record. That is close to twice what I did and he was 43 years old when he did it.

  I did some feats of strength but I am the only person in the history of my high school to lock out the Iron Cross on the rings; at least as far as I know. But those were the more important challenges to me; what can I do with my body in a healthy way?

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