logo
episode-header-image
Nov 2018
56m 54s

The Go-To Self-Quantification Wristband ...

BEN GREENFIELD
About this episode
It's been awhile since I've talked about the WHOOP self-quantification wristband.

A few things we learned in my last podcast about this unique device, entitled  "WHOOP: The Performance Enhancing Wearable That Tells You When To Sleep, How To Exercise, Your Strain Levels & More!, include:

-The key defining characteristics that set WHOOP apart, including skin conductivity, accelerometer data, and continuous HRV monitoring…

-Why WHOOP is the only company to measure the activity and fluctuations of the cardiac autonomic nervous system, particularly as it relates to recovery, training status, and training readiness…

-The actual hard data being collected by the WHOOP, and HRV, pulse oximetry, temperature, respiration, etc.)…

-Why the WHOOP uses a combination of PPG (photoplethysmography) sensors (4 LEDs and 1 Photodiode) along with 3-axis accelerometer, capacitive touch sensor, ambient temperature sensor…

-How coaches and trainers can use WHOOP to monitor the sleep, training and recovery status of a large number of athletes and clients…

-Why the WHOOP has 90% sleep/wake accuracy compared to gold-standard sleep labs…

-How the WHOOP sleep coach automatically calculates sleep needed based on your sleep baseline, any sleep debt that has accumulated over the last few nights, and any naps taken for that day…

-The technology the WHOOP uses to tell you how much sleep you need and to give you a picture of when you should go to bed based on your habitual sleep efficiency and desired wake up time…

-Why athletes like LeBron James and Michael Phelps are using the WHOOP…

And in the article The World On Your Wrist: How To Track Your Daily Strain, Recovery, Sleep & More (A Nerded Out Review Of The New WHOOP Wearable.), you got a complete user review of exactly how the WHOOP worked out when a member of my team put it through the ringer for sleep, activity, recovery and much more.

Then in the follow-up podcast "The Reebok Crossfit Games, Half-Ironman Nutrition, Elite Athlete Diets & More: A Conversation With The WHOOP Team" we discussed how Crossfit athletes have been getting a ton of value out of the WHOOP.

Today,  Will Ahmed, the Founder and CEO of WHOOP, is back. At WHOOP, Will works with professional athletes across every sports league, college athletes across every conference, Olympians and the U.S. military.

Ahmed has raised more than $50 million from top investors and has an active advisory board that consists of some of the world’s most notable cardiologists, technologists, marketers, and designers. He was named a 2011 Harvard College Scholar for finishing in the top 10% of his class and a CSA Scholar Athlete; he captained the Harvard Men’s Varsity Squash Team. Ahmed was recently named to Forbes 30 Under 30 and Boston Business Journal 40 Under 40.

During our discussion, you'll discover: -What a WHOOP device is, and what makes it so unique...8:00
  • Unlock human performance.
  • Understanding 3 core parameters about the body:
    • Strain
    • Recovery
    • Sleep
  • Focus is on collecting data: 100 mb per person per day.
    • 100x more than other wearables.
    • Much more accurate understanding of the body
  • Strong focus on Heart Rate Variability (measured 24/7)
  • Triangulating data points.
  • Recovery is the most important measurement.
  • What is measured in the realm of sleep.
    • WHOOP data is comparable to PSG, considered the "gold standard" of sleep measurement.
    • Used by the NFLPA for recovery wear.
-Why there's a very dim light on the WHOOP device, and whether there's concern about it affecting quality of sleep...19:40
  • Blue light stimulates the IPRGC, which tell your circadian rhythm that it's daytime.
    • Don't look at screens at night.
  • WHOOP emits green light; less capable of stimulating those cells.
  • If wearing correctly, you can't see the light at all.
  • Light on the body of the U/V spectrum is problematic.
  • Seeing light much more consequential, than light being emitted onto your skin.
-About the actual electricity, Bluetooth, wifi signaling of the WHOOP...23:20
  • Two different things at work
    • Frequency
    • Power emission
  • Low power emission has very little consequence, even with sustained exposure. 
  • Power emission is measured by level of communication. (Cell phones are very high)
  • Bluetooth have very low power emission.
  • WHOOP is not constantly transmitting data; every 6 minutes.
  • WiFi is extremely high power emission.
  • If phone is in airplane mode, WHOOP stops transmitting data.
-The research WHOOP has been doing on meditation...32:10
  • Partnering with Head Space and Arsenal on a study. (can't discuss details)
  • Study involving float tanks.
    • Gives effects of sleep without sleeping.
    • Similar to a meditation session.
    • Monitoring HRV, respiratory rate, heart rate and motion
  • Independent woman did a mindfulness study
    • For 3 weeks, had no mindfulness practice.
    • Then for 3 weeks, meditated 3-4 times per day.
    • HRV increased while practicing mindfulness; quality of sleep improved.
-WHOOP's work with Navy SEALS and Army Special Forces...35:45
  • Worked with Army ordinance unit.
    • 40 participants
    • Half could see data; half could not.
    • Those with access to data went to bed earlier; slept later than those without access to data.
  • Navy SEALS test
    • Sky dove from 14k feet into the ocean.
    • Swam 3 miles to shore
    • Ran 100 miles with 25 lb plates on their back.
    • Focus on preventing overtraining; body wasn't recovering properly.
    • By seeing data, helped with recovery.
    • When they started, averaged ~6 hrs. sleep per night; after 3 months, averaged 7.5 hrs.
-Research Will has done on stress reduction...42:30
  • Stress and HRV closely related.
  • Less alcohol consumption.
  • No caffeine after 4 pm.
  • Exercise; but don't overtrain or undertrain.
  • Drink more high quality water. (minerals, sea salts, etc.)
  • Dehydration plays a large role in lack of recovery.
  • Mindfulness.
-The pros and cons of sleep regularity vs. sleep duration...46:45
  • Harvard study performed on students showed that consistency in sleep led to higher GPA
  • "Sleep coach" within the WHOOP app recommends times to go to bed and to wake up.
  • Minimum viable sleep.
  • WHOOP takes napping into account (sleep need)
-And much more!!! Resources from this episode:

-WHOOP (use code GREENFIELD for $30 off at checkout)

-AquaTru Mineral Drops

-Quicksilver Scientific Quintron Hypertonic Minerals

-Biohacking movie Ben mentions: Upgrade

Episode Sponsors:

-Kion Lean Support for normal blood sugar levels and healthy energy metabolism, even after large, carb-rich meals.

-Organifi Red Juice. A “Tart-Sweet” Custom Brew With The HOTTEST Fat Melting And “Skin-Firming” Superfoods In The World. Use code "greenfield" for a 20% discount on your order.

-Thrive Market Organic brands you love, for less. Get your favorite Organic & Non-GMO brands delivered to your door. Use my link and get an extra 25% off your order.

-Primal Cold Make the cold your secret weapon with next-level cold gear. Get 15% off your order when you use code "ben" at checkout.

Do you have questions, thoughts or feedback for Will or me? Leave your comments at http://bengreenfieldfitness.com/whoop3 and one of us will reply!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Up next
Today
Ben Greenfield Finally Discovers The Healthiest, Tastiest Beef & Steaks (& Learns How To Cook Them Perfectly) with Dr. Phil Bass.
In this episode, you’ll get to discover the fascinating world of Piedmontese beef as you follow along while an entire cow is unboxed—cut by cut—with Dr. Phil Bass. You’ll learn what makes this rare breed so unique, from its double-muscling genetics to the Italian seam butchery te ... Show More
46m 7s
Jul 10
The Surprising Link Between Cold Plunging, Testosterone & Sexual Performance (For Both Men & Women!), With Dr. Thomas P Seager
In this fascinating episode, you’ll get to discover the powerful link between cold plunge therapy and sexual health with Dr. Thomas Seager, author of Uncommon Cold: The Science & Experience of Cold Plunge Therapy. You’ll explore how cold exposure can naturally boost testosterone ... Show More
58m 33s
Jul 5
Superfoods Of The Sea, Why "Wild-Caught" Fish Are DIRTY, Fish Oil vs. Fish & More With Seatopia's James Arthur Smith
James Arthur Smith, who first joined me for the episode, “Why Wild-Caught Fish Isn’t Necessarily Better, The Truth About Farmed Fish, How To Get Guilt-Free, Gourmet Seafood, Delicious DIY Sushi & Sashimi Recipes & Much More!,” is a regenerative food systems entrepreneur, ocean ad ... Show More
1h 3m
Recommended Episodes
Mar 2022
Dr Jeffrey Durmer | Sleep Like a Champ
Sleep doesn’t usually come to mind when people think about fitness. But after Jeffrey Durmer, MD, PhD, noticed the lack of sleep support when he was an elite athlete, and again when his daughters were national-level swimmers, he decided to take the research into his own hands. No ... Show More
48m 53s
Aug 2022
Sleep Debt, The Circadian Rhythm & Why Sleep Staging Doesn't Matter With Jeff Kahn - 20 Minutes Fitness Episode #267 (2021)
Are you having trouble sleeping? Do you feel tired and low on energy during the day? Well, you came to the right place then, because this week on the 20 Minute Fitness podcast we are bringing back our conversation with Jeff Kahn, the Co-Founder & CEO of RISE. RISE is an app that ... Show More
1 h
Dec 2023
TMHS 746: How Time Controls Your Brain, Body, & Health - With Dr. Amy Shah
For hundreds of years, humans naturally fasted during the nighttime hours. Our bodies function in accordance with the circadian rhythm in every way, including our hormones, digestion, neurotransmitters, and so much more. But in our modern society, we have access to food, light, a ... Show More
1h 19m
Sep 2023
How Performance Psychology Can Give You the Mental Toughness to Succeed
Jen Schumacher is currently the mental performance consultant for Northwestern University’s football program. Previously she was the Assistant Director of the Performance Psychology program at West Point Military Academy. She is also a professional speaker and provides training f ... Show More
54m 31s
Feb 2023
# 41 - Sleep and Exercise Pt. 3
Today, Matt focuses on how the type, intensity, and duration of exercise affect its impact on sleep. A study of middle-aged adults split its active group into three subgroups: moderate-intensity aerobic exercise, high-intensity aerobic exercise, and moderate-to-intense weight/res ... Show More
26m 3s
Jul 2022
How To Master Your Sleep & Be More Alert When Awake with Shawn Stevenson
This episode is brought to you by BiOptimizers and Cozy Earth. Sleep is one of our most basic human needs, and we’re constantly learning more about how it impacts human health. We’re also learning more about ways to improve it. Light exposure is a big one. From how often and when ... Show More
2h 10m
Jan 2023
# 40 - Sleep and Exercise Pt. 2
This week, Matt goes deeper into the relationship between sleep and exercise. More specifically, does daytime exercise change the stages and types of sleep? Deep sleep is critical for various functions, so anything that can increase it is desirable. Older adults have an inherentl ... Show More
22m 17s
Jul 2021
How to Rewire Your Brain For Sleep with Dr. Andrew Huberman
How to Rewire Your Brain For Sleep | This episode is brought to you by Athletic Greens, BiOptimizers, and Cozy Earth When I was in medical school, they taught us we can’t regenerate brain cells. If you stayed up too late studying or did drugs, you’d lose precious connections and ... Show More
1h 38m
Mar 2023
Uncovering The Root Cause of Sleep Issues and How to Improve Your Sleep Today with Shawn Stevenson
This episode is brought to you by Birch Mattress by Helix and BiOptimizers Magnesium Breakthrough. Sleep is one of our most basic human needs, and we’re constantly learning more about how it impacts human health. We’re also learning more about ways to improve it. On today’s mini- ... Show More
33m 50s
Feb 2020
#38 | The Importance Of Sleep With The Online Sleep Coach Nick Lambe
Not all sleep is created equal! In this episode Arash and Nick Lambe AKA "The Online Sleep Coach" discuss all things sleep related. A few topics of discussion include circadian rhythm, biological clock, sleep quality and quantity, sleep vs. sedation, and the 3 main causes of slee ... Show More
53m 48s