Background

I was the skinny kid, too small for sports for most of my childhood. Plus, I'm left handed so many coaches ignored me as much as possible. I ran cross country (junior varsity) in high school and attempted wrestling during most peak growth period with maximum clumsiness. During college, I filled out. During medical and graduate school, I joined a gym near my home and used it during off hours and got hooked on weightlifting because the attendants had time to help me out; they loved to grind me up with negative workouts. By the time, I was in my Pathology Residency, I was beginning to worry about my long term cardiovascular health (dangerously low HDL, the good cholesterol).

I took up stationary biking and got hooked (I can read alot while riding). I tried going the low fat route for many years, but was slowly adding weight and fat and watching my cholesterol get worse. Then, a medical student working in my lab asked me a question one day about basic biochemistry and how it could be applied to exercise approaches. I was amazed at how stumped I was. I started what became a long, strange trip of reviewing medical texts and then sifting throught the primary medical literature.

I was stunned with the contradictions between what I was learning and understanding and what public health pundits were proclaiming to gullible lay people. In 1996, I began applying what I was learning, (and really understanding for the first time). I abandoned the low fat route, restricted carbs (almost no refined grains), focused on essential fatty acids, and upped my protein intake. My weight has gone from 210 to 175. My HDL has gone from 35 to 72. My aerobic fitness has gone from a VO2max of 37 to 57. I'm healthier now than I was 20 years ago. Youth really is wasted on the young.

I've recently shifted to higher intensity aerobic workouts and interval train 2X weekly. Weights are done 3X per week with low sets, mid reps, to failure. During this time, I have written extensively on nutrition, aging, and exercise physiology for various websites. I continue to be fascinated how our views on aging are evolving. My personal opinion is that people really don't age, they just get fat and lazy over time. My current interests relate to exercise physiology and its impact on various body fat depots and nutrition's impact on aging and vice versa. My current philosophy is that "you're as young as you workout."

He can be contacted at mgkurilla@comcast.net.

Vital Stats

Name: Michael Kurilla, MD-PhD
E-Mail: mgkurilla@comcast.net
Age: 45
Occupation: Pharmaceutical R&D
Height: 5' 9''
Weight: 173
Waist: 32"
Favorite Bodypart: Legs
Hobbies: Reading, Working Out, Writing

Articles :: Sorted By Date

Understanding The Science Behind Interval Training: Part 2.
Part II will discuss two related concepts, the post-exercise period in terms of fuel usage and the underlying rationale for interval training along with its impact on cardiovascular training.
Section: Training :: May 08, 2003

Understanding The Science Behind Interval Training: Part 1.
This three part article will review the basics of exercise physiology in order to understand the role of fuel selection (fat versus carb burning) within the context of an overall aerobic conditioning program.
Section: Training :: May 08, 2003

Understanding The Science Behind Interval Training: Part 3.
Part III in this series on interval training will deal with the actual mechanics of designing and implementing an interval training program.
Section: Training :: May 09, 2003

Rethinking The Endo Bias & Introducing A New Type: Mesendomorph.
With identification of successful bodybuilders of various body types, an individual would be able to identify comparable bodybuilders of a similar body type and then select training routines that have worked for that group. Under the current Heath-Carter system, this is not possible. Learn why and what you should know!
Section: Training :: May 13, 2003

Body Fat Monitoring Made Ridiculously Simple.
Body fat determination is not straightforward compared to height, weight, aerobic fitness, or strength determinations. This article will briefly review the major techniques, finishing with a simple, easily employed method, requiring nothing more than a tape measure and a look up table that should be more than adequate for most individuals.
Section: Training :: Jun 11, 2003

All About Shoulder Pain.
Part I of this two part series will examine shoulder anatomy in sufficient detail to highlight the basis for skeletal variations that can predispose certain individuals to persistent shoulder problems.
Section: Training :: Jul 30, 2003

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