Review of Dr. Kareem Samhouri's Double-Edged Fat Loss 2.0 By Mike Westerdal of CriticalBench.com
Double-Edged Fat Loss is a different type of program that is based on a two-pronged ("double-edged") approach to fat loss. The concept is based on the integration of the nervous system and fat loss training into a singular training system. It was developed by Dr. Kareem Samhouri, CSCS, HFS. According to Dr. Kareem, most people who exercise for fat loss fail to achieve the desired results because they ignore the nervous system and its impact on the body's metabolic systems.
Dr. Kareem says that for nearly all of us, our nervous systems are only operating at the most elementary levels, holding us back from achieving the kinds of fat loss we'd like to see. By incorporating the nervous system into the fat loss training approach, Dr. Kareem says that his Double-Edged program enables people to get rid of unwanted fat like never before.
The basic premise of DEFL is that when training, most people leave communication with the nervous system out of the equation and as a result, they are missing out up to 80% of the 'metabolic potential' of each exercise they perform. He says that even at the advanced level, the training performance of most athletes is diminished by as much as 50%, simply because they do not know how to properly communicate with the nervous system.
According to Dr. Kareem, this decreases athletic performance and fat loss in particular. One of the specific negative effects this causes is poor signaling, which he says decreases the muscles' force output, resulting in sub-par muscular contractions. Because you're not achieving optimal performance, your muscles get fatigued before they should and you burn fewer calories and less fat than you could otherwise--if you were communicating properly with your nervous system.
Well Dr. Kareem says he's figured out a way to open the lines of communication with the nervous system and he's put it all together and built the Double-Edged Fat Loss program. The program is based on the principles of Neuro-Fitness Training, which integrates the nervous system into the training equation, increasing efficiency and resulting in better, faster, more intense muscular contractions. This not only improves training performance but according to Dr. Kareem, it dramatically improves the body's capacity to burn fat.
The DEFL 2.0 teaching approach is a little bit different than most programs I've run across over the last few years, mostly because almost all of the information is presented through online videos, audio clips and webinars. He does include a few PDF files but they're mainly supplemental materials such as an exercise workbook, a quick-start guide and a nutrition planner. Everything else about the program is online. The nice thing about this approach is that you can download the video and audio clips and take them right to the gym with you. This is great for guys whose learning styles are geared more towards audio and visual rather than reading. For those of you who are accustomed to learning through the printed word, DEFL 2.0 might be tough to grasp.
To begin with DEFL 2.0, the first thing you want to do is open the 'quick-start' guide, which lays out the beginner's approach to the program. The first step is to take pictures so you have some good 'before' shots to compare to after you've started working the program. Next, he asks you to download the nutrition guide so you can build a nutritional plan that's right for you and the goals you want to achieve.
Once you've got the nutrition part down, Dr. Kareem recommends that you purchase his package of specially designed nutritional supplements. I'll be straight up here--the supplements he's pushing aren't cheap. If you decide to follow the good Doctor's plan, expect to be shelling out a hundred bucks or more for the DEFL supplements. That's a decision you'll have to make for yourself.
The next step is to go back to the website and start downloading the workouts. For the first week, there is a PDF manual that you can download and read if you want. From that point on, most everything is downloaded from the Doctor's website. Apparently, the secret to opening the lines of communication with the nervous system stem from the exercises themselves. Be forewarned though, some of them look a bit complicated to maneuver.
In terms of boosting fat loss, Dr. Kareem might be on to something--he's got plenty of endorsements from fitness pros who say DEFL 2.0 is phenomenal. But, keep in mind that there are some downsides too. It can be costly if you buy his recommended supplements and for some guys, the 'unstructured' program structure can be difficult to follow. Keep these things in mind when considering whether or not DEFL 2.0 is right for you.
