Your number one priority

I have taken up Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu(BJJ) for about the last 4 months and it has done wonders for me. My energy levels are higher, my mind is sharper, and my confidence is better then its has ever been. Not only its a nice break from my day but it has become my second passion in life. 4 classes a week hour each is not a bad investment in one's self.

I just moved to the bay area last December so I don't know all the best places yet, but you can do everything you just described very easily in SV.

Hate to burst anyone's bubble but Tim Ferriss is selling snake oil.

The 4 Hour Body is roundly and deservedly mocked on bodybuilding forums. Its claims are completely delusional. Among them:

# How Tim gained 34 pounds of muscle in 28 days, without steroids, and in four hours of total gym time

# How to sleep 2 hours per day and feel fully rested

# How to triple testosterone and double sperm count

# How to go from running 5 kilometers to 50 kilometers in 12 weeks

# How to reverse "permanent" injuries

This kind of stuff only fools people who don't have prior information to compare it to. For example, the "incredibly high" level of testosterone he is talking about is in the 600 ng/dL range, which is a normal level. It is an expected number, and the variation he observes is completely within the range of natural fluctuations. Testosterone peaks and falls.

It is also impossible to gain 34 pounds of muscle in 28 days with that level of testosterone. In fact, it would be impossible for anyone other than a professional bodybuilder coming back from a layoff (it's quicker to regain if you've already achieved it before) WITH high doses of anabolic agents including testosterone, pushing massive weights.

(Injectable testosterone esters have long carbon tails which means the molecules take much longer to be broken down. This jacks up testosterone levels 24 hours a day, without the peak/fall of the normal cycle. This vastly increases the window for protein synthesis.)

Just look at the claim: 34 pounds of muscle in 28 days, which is over a pound a day, in less than 4 hours in the gym. This is almost 9 POUNDS OF MUSCLE per one hour of exercise. Completely ludicrous.

Sleeping 2 hours a day? Sure. Forget 8-minute abs, we've got... 7 minute abs!

Being able to run 30 miles after 3 months of training? Are we onto this BS yet?

Those injuries you've got, they aren't "permanent"! Note the scare quotes. It's just in your head, and if you don't get these fantabulous results, it's your own fault. Lazy bum.

There are similar problems with the 4-hour Workweek. Just look at all the publicity for it -- it was a CONSTANT media blitz where Ferriss was working around-the-clock to promote himself. And he's been doing that for a long time; his self-promotion is a full-time job in itself.

It's the same old story with all the so-called financial gurus. They ALL get rich by selling you a book about how you can get rich quickly and with barely any work.

Anyone who's ever done any programming or writing knows how little 4 hours is. As a weekly investment, that is NOT the path to mastery or startup success.

You can't even be a successful snake-oil salesman with 4 hours per week, as evidenced by Ferriss himself. It takes lots of work and dedication.

Great points. Lately I've been cramming workouts right before work or lunchtime. Lots of general health ane energy benefits.

For boring married folks like me, I would add family time every day is important.