I wasn't sure where to post this....

Pretty interesting, especially about a possible push to selling of more healthy foods, cafes, etc.

Enjoy!
-Chris

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'Body-for-LIFE' author making transformation
Former EAS president developing TV program, health food opportunity

By Rachel Brand, Rocky Mountain News
November 6, 2004

Colorado's native son has a mind that travels as widely as the rolling hills that stretch beyond his office picture window.

The view from Bill Phillips' Golden suites takes in the green Front Range foothills. The walls are lined with books on spirituality, time management and success.

Amid leather and fine wood, a hint of showbiz peeks out: a real zebra-skin rug and faux leopard-covered chairs.

Tanned, fit and relaxed, Phillips is ready for his next act.

The former Mr. Teen Colorado ruled vitamin-maker EAS as it became a multimillion-dollar supplement and nutrition company.

As president and CEO of EAS, he started the Body-for-LIFE challenges, in which contestants competed for a million-dollar prize. He also wrote a best-selling book, Body-for-LIFE, and donated his proceeds - more than $2 million - to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

After EAS was sold to venture capitalists in 1999, Phillips cashed out. He just ended a five-year noncompete agreement. Last month EAS was sold to Illinois-based Abbott Laboratories for $320 million in cash.

The Rocky Mountain News sat down with him to learn about his next moves.

Rocky Mountain News: What are you up to right now?

Phillips: Everything is under the umbrella of this idea of the great American transformation. Making the transformation from literally the most unhealthy nation in the world to the most healthy.

How to help people with exercise and nutrition so significantly, and to change the way things are right now so much that America could go from being literally 66 percent of our population overweight, out of shape, obese, to, literally, the opposite - 66 percent being extraordinarily fit and healthy.

News: What are you doing specifically?

Phillips: A television program with a working title The Transformation Show. We're shooting segments and a pilot. NBC, Fox and Discovery each want a version.

News: What's the premise?

Phillips: Beautiful, inspiring success stories. It's not about weight loss. It's a fundamental change in how you're living, how you're thinking and how you believe.

There will be prime-time shows, daily shows. It'll be on TV in about another year.

News: What else are you up to?

Phillips: Healthy food. This country will never go back to more of an Italian, family style of living where you invest the time and prepare food, sit down, relax, breathe and celebrate. No.

So there will be food companies. Eating for Life foods - fresh food delivered, Eating for Life cafes. Transformation cafes. Transformation foods. I'm already talking to Kraft Foods about this.

Big, big beautiful opportunities for business.

News: Describe yourself as a businessman:

Phillips: Problem-solver. I manage big problems; I fix big problems. That's why I really want to focus on America's tremendous health problem. It's a beautiful opportunity. And that's what business does: It is free to go in whatever direction it wants, and it can solve problems faster than a bureaucracy can.

News: What's your biggest challenge as a businessman?

Phillips: Bridging idealism with realism.

News: Is it a challenge to get people to buy into your visions?

Phillips: Yeah, it takes a certain type of mind-set to work with me. I'm a right- brained, intuitive person. I've never done a business plan. The whole idea that a business evolves in a linear path - that it goes from this, to this plus 10 percent, to this plus 10 percent a year. . . . You might as well be speaking Chinese.

News: But isn't that what a solid diet and fitness plan is based on? A plan?

Phillips: (He laughs). What I teach is a way to achieve a breakthrough. The transformations people achieve on the television show - if you were to talk to a physician or so-called health expert, they'd say, "Those aren't possible."

News: What advice would you give entrepreneurs?

Phillips: Start with the most unrealistic, outrageous, exciting vision you can come up with. A good old-fashioned realistic look at things has killed more potentially exciting businesses than anything I can think of. Be a dreamer.

News: Is there a Mrs. Phillips?

Phillips: No. I'm still working on that.

News: You must meet some of the most beautiful people in the world.

Phillips: I do meet some beautiful people, of all kinds. I have two examples of people that I really model. One is Jerry Seinfeld, who got married when he was 45. He says I've done a great job in waiting and that it's a completely different game at this point.

His advice: Don't you dare marry anyone that you wouldn't go into business with.

At this point, your home is a business, your family is a business. Somebody that you can basically work together with and cooperatively manage your life.

And Arnold (Schwarzenegger). His advice: Wait until you're in your 40s.

News: How old are you?

Phillips: 40.

News: You've said the biggest problem area in the body is the mind.

Phillips: Your body, your business, your environment and your life are all a direct result of how you work with thought form - how your mind creates. By the time a person's body is out of shape, their business is out of shape.

The Body-for-LIFE program offers a testing ground that you can see, feel and measure. But business is also a great testing ground because you can also measure it. Decisions being made add up.

News: On that note, are there any spiritual leaders you connect with?

Phillips: David Hawkins, who is in Sedona,(Ariz.), and his book Power vs. Force is probably one of the best books I've ever read on thought form. In terms of the classic masters - Buddha, Krishna, Christ and the sun scientists of Mayan culture. And of course the Greeks.

News: Were you always such an introspective person?

Phillips: Yes (laughs). Things went a little deeper for me.

I figured out at a very early age that fitness was a way to increase my experience, to get higher.

I'll tell you, there are a lot of business degrees people can earn. But in business, you have to have high thought form because not only is the idea of starting a business solving a problem, but every day the business is going to have a problem.

News: What do you make of American business in general?

Phillips: Helping America get healthy is a beautiful business opportunity.

Ten years from now something will replace McDonald's. The writing is on the wall for McDonald's. The fast-food industry is the second incarnation of the tobacco industry. They know exactly what they're doing.

I mean from all perspectives. Entertainment is polluted - how many tens of thousands of violent acts do children see before they are 14? That's obviously unhealthy.

The landscape is polluted, not just environmentally. You can't drive from here to the other side of Golden without seeing at least 16 fast-food places. Even bookstores try to sell us candy. It's not because they're concerned somebody will pass out or starve.

Companies that come in providing nourishing content rather than toxic content will benefit. When you think of health, it isn't just apples and oranges, jogging and workout clothes that make good businesses.

I think it is great to see the push for healthier lifestyles. However people need to WANT to do it form deep within themselves. I have been working out for years and I see people come and go. They have such great intentions and are inspiring, until they don't lose 20 pounds in two weeks or whatever. I found for me, it took a great deal of time to really want to eat healthy and exercise for my well being, and not for my appearance.

For me, I love the comfort in knowing I care about myself from inside out. Sure I have a few pounds to lose, but it is not effecting my health. I am healthier now as a non smoker then I was a thin smoker. I just have to keep telling myself this and keep looking forward.

I can see his reality show being inspiring, BUT these people have someone to motivate, watch and ass whoop at all times. How many of us have that? Most of us take a long time to get to where we want to be, and learn to understand things do not happen overnight. These reality shows are edited for the best parts, and don't show the boring stuff that might make us fall off the wagon.

Bill Phillips is such a rich man, and if it were not for fat out of shape people, he would not be sitting in that posh suite of his. I know he probably does want to help people, but there is a lot of money to be made, and he sees the space on the market. He has the money and the reputation behind him to do soemthing about it.

Good article though.

You make great points. Just last night I caught the end of "The Biggest Loser," and this girl lost 5 lbs. in a week. And she said in the interview "losing 5 pounds is nothing but a total failure." And I thought "NO IT ISN'T!!!"

Hell if anything more than that would have been UNhealthy.

Bill Phillips is rich yes, but "if it were not for out of shape people" is more than likely way off. If you follow his career and life you'd know he has that "something extra" that most successful people have. I would imagine that he could have been rich and successful even if he would have chosen to keep his magazine (which early on focused mostly on steroids), or to do something totally different. Sure, he's made money off of fat people, but so what. I don't see anything wrong with that. He's also helped literally millions of people. In my opinion he deserves to be rich -- he's worked for it, and he's been MORE than reciprocal.

I have friends who work with and for him though (closely), so I have seen some of this first hand. He's actually a very genuine and caring person from what all of them tell me.

You make great points. Just last night I caught the end of "The Biggest Loser," and this girl lost 5 lbs. in a week. And she said in the interview "losing 5 pounds is nothing but a total failure." And I thought "NO IT ISN'T!!!"

It's extremely rare that I get caught up in reality shows, but "Biggest Loser" is a guilty pleasure for me. It's an example of what not to do mixed with pure entertainment. Other than Buccaneers football, it's the only time I'm guaranteed to be near the TV.

I say it's "what not to do" because I'm aghast at the lack of education these obese people receive. How their trainers can look themselves in the mirror when they act like drill sargeants instead of teaching these people what they need to know to lose weight (and *gasp* keep it off) is beyond me. The comment that a 5-lb. weight loss (in a week!) is a failure is indicative of the mindset on that show. Why isn't it clearly understood that since it took years to become obese, it could take years of similar persistent effort to reverse the effects?

Could the expedited transformations portrayed by Body-for-Life actually be undermining its very intent by making people think that if a person doesn't lose body fat overnight with a proper effort, failure is imminent?

Hmmm. :confused:

I can see his reality show being inspiring, BUT these people have someone to motivate, watch and ass whoop at all times. How many of us have that? Most of us take a long time to get to where we want to be, and learn to understand things do not happen overnight. These reality shows are edited for the best parts, and don't show the boring stuff that might make us fall off the wagon.

Bill Phillips is such a rich man, and if it were not for fat out of shape people, he would not be sitting in that posh suite of his. I know he probably does want to help people, but there is a lot of money to be made, and he sees the space on the market. He has the money and the reputation behind him to do soemthing about it.

I'll never understand why it is considered taboo to make a buck spreading a message you believe in - or worse, why a good message with good intentions becomes tainted to its intended audience because a dollar was made from it. You'd do it. I'd do it - in a heartbeat. And it doesn't truly dilute the message. This is public is ignorance. I've said this many times: people as individuals are intelligent, people as a collective tend to be led by a mob mentality and that dumbs them down to the IQ of a tree stump.

Similarly, not only is the message tainted, but so is the messenger. Heaven forbid someone motivated make a buck trying to help those of a lesser motivation; why does the public have a skewed perception of people who do this? They're not being preyed upon, they're being empowered yet that is rarely the way it's viewed. Perhaps it's because Philips is associated with the seemingly snake-oil trade of motivational speaking. Philips is also associated with personal trainers, whose clients we see fail as many times as we see them succeed - every gym has their share and mine is no exception. Would Philips' message have any more merit would that it were offered for free? Why begrudge Philips his wealth when it's accumulated based on a genuine effort to help people?

Bill Philips and the Body-for-Life program are directly responsible for where I am today and because of that, I hold him higher in my mind. For me, Philips and Body-for-Life have a permanent monument in my mind; Philips' program was the beginning of my journey. I wonder where I'd be today had I not seen that poster on the gym wall five years ago. His approach, though not optimal, is sound and effective. Maybe my allegiance to his programs is because I started my journey walking through the very same doors Porter Freeman did and having worked with Porter's trainer. I dunno.

What I do know is that everyone has the potential, but how well we each exercise that potential is entirely up to you. Not Philips.

Bill Philips and the Body-for-Life program are directly responsible for where I am today and because of that, I hold him higher in my mind. For me, Philips and Body-for-Life have a permanent monument in my mind; Philips' program was the beginning of my journey. I wonder where I'd be today had I not seen that poster on the gym wall five years ago. His approach, though not optimal, is sound and effective. Maybe my allegiance to his programs is because I started my journey walking through the very same doors Porter Freeman did and having worked with Porter's trainer. I dunno.

What I do know is that everyone has the potential, but how well we each exercise that potential is entirely up to you. Not Philips.

Same here on all points Bluestreak. For those unaware (I know you are aware), Bluestreak and I are both friends with Porter's trainer. Just a few weeks ago I was telling this person about a piece of info in Men's Health's "The Testosterone Advantage Plan" book, where they cut on the BFL program. He told me that sure, results from many of those BFL trainees are nothing short of unbelievable, but he could let any of us speak with those people and hear real world accounts of how this program has changed their life. I have personally sat down and spoken to more than one of these champions, and while a glance at the before and after pictures may seem unrealistic when you throw in all of my knowledge about nutrition, fat loss, bodybuilding, genetics, etc., the fact is that it did happen.

Yes, I have gone beyond BFL at this point and found more optimal results with different approaches, but I too have sort of a soft spot for the program as it did open many doors for me as well.

Bluestreak and I are both friends with Porter's trainer. Just a few weeks ago ...

I'm gonna have to get together with you guys one of these days. I could use Eric's perspective on where I am and what I wanna do.

-R

I'm gonna have to get together with you guys one of these days. I could use Eric's perspective on where I am and what I wanna do.

-R

We just went and had lunch with another friend of mine/his, who is actually doing the BFL program right now. We went to that Hullihans place on 50 near downtown (pretty good food).

Looks like Eric is actually going to train my girlfriend. :)

We just went and had lunch with another friend of mine/his, who is actually doing the BFL program right now. We went to that Hullihans place on 50 near downtown (pretty good food).

Looks like Eric is actually going to train my girlfriend. :)

If you do Houlihan's again, lemme know. It's about 30 seconds from my office.

-R

I will not argue your points. I remember him when he did focus more on the steriod part of things. I have not followed him since then though. I do think soemthing needs to be done to teach people healthy life styles and how to practice it. I know Bill Phillips will be one of those voices that will heard. He is an excellent business man, and I have seen a documentory about him a few years back.

I guess I am just mad because his products are SUPER expenisive and I can't afford them any ways... He does sell good stuff and you get what you pay for. I just can't afford to pay for it.



Bill Phillips is rich yes, but "if it were not for out of shape people" is more than likely way off. If you follow his career and life you'd know he has that "something extra" that most successful people have. I would imagine that he could have been rich and successful even if he would have chosen to keep his magazine (which early on focused mostly on steroids), or to do something totally different. Sure, he's made money off of fat people, but so what. I don't see anything wrong with that. He's also helped literally millions of people. In my opinion he deserves to be rich -- he's worked for it, and he's been MORE than reciprocal.

I have friends who work with and for him though (closely), so I have seen some of this first hand. He's actually a very genuine and caring person from what all of them tell me.

I guess I am just mad because his products are SUPER expenisive and I can't afford them any ways... He does sell good stuff and you get what you pay for. I just can't afford to pay for it.

Actually, I know very few people who use supplements who are fans of EAS products (which, BTW... Bill Philips ended his affiliation with EAS when he sold the company in 1999). There are more affordable, more effective, better tasting, and higher quality supplements available on the market to meet your needs. Look to the JSF sponsors. I prefer their products and guidance when supps are called for.

Actually, I know very few people who use supplements who are fans of EAS products (which, BTW... Bill Philips ended his affiliation with EAS when he sold the company in 1999). There are more affordable, more effective, better tasting, and higher quality supplements available on the market to meet your needs. Look to the JSF sponsors. I prefer their products and guidance when supps are called for.

Agreed, I was just about to say this. :)

It's not his supplements anymore. Notice that as soon as he sold EAS they started selling Ephedra -- he didn't think it was safe and even though he would have made tons of cash selling it, he didn't want to.

I too think that most people would agree that there are much better supplements out there. I think EAS has really gone downhill since 1999 actually. Even the Myoplex tastes gross now. I used to like their Phosphagen, but even for creatine now I use AST's version.

If you do Houlihan's again, lemme know. It's about 30 seconds from my office.

-R

ABSOLUTELY!!!!

Have you seen his latest trainee's results? Check this out man, pretty awesome!

http://www.finallyfit.net/lynnoglesby.html

I used Myoplex back in '98~'99 when I first trained with Eric. Back then Myoplex smelled like a box of crayons and tasted just as good (or bad, I guess). If it has gone downhill since... I can't imagine what it tastes like now.

Have you seen his latest trainee's results? Check this out man, pretty awesome![/url]

Yup. That exact poster was up at Steel Mill for a while, might still be but they're remodeling to install a "juice bar" right now so the place is a bit torn up. That's what? Like his fourth or fifth person to place in the EAS challenges...

-R

I used Myoplex back in '98~'99 when I first trained with Eric. Back then Myoplex smelled like a box of crayons and tasted just as good (or bad, I guess). If it has gone downhill since... I can't imagine what it tastes like now.

Yup. That exact poster was up at Steel Mill for a while, might still be but they're remodeling to install a "juice bar" right now so the place is a bit torn up. That's what? Like his fourth or fifth person to place in the EAS challenges...

-R

I think it's his 4th trainee to place. Unreal. His portfolio is impressive though, amazing actually.

You work out at Steel Mill? Which one? I went to one of his seminars at the one in Clermont. They had a nice place there, a little nicer than the one in Orlando (which is where I assume you go).

You work out at Steel Mill? Which one? I went to one of his seminars at the one in Clermont. They had a nice place there, a little nicer than the one in Orlando (which is where I assume you go).

We're gonna have to stop thread crapping and take it to PM! The Orlando one. I live just up the street from there towards the Oviedo side of town.

We're gonna have to stop thread crapping and take it to PM! The Orlando one. I live just up the street from there towards the Oviedo side of town.

It's my thread and I'll crap if I want to!!!!!

Actually, I know very few people who use supplements who are fans of EAS products (which, BTW... Bill Philips ended his affiliation with EAS when he sold the company in 1999). There are more affordable, more effective, better tasting, and higher quality supplements available on the market to meet your needs. Look to the JSF sponsors. I prefer their products and guidance when supps are called for.

Bluestreak I agree with you.

When I first started my program in September, I bought EAS Vanilla Whey. I thought I was going to vomit. No matter what I did, it gagged me to drink it. I wasn't sure if I really wanted to gain weight if I had to drink this stuff. After tasting AllTheWhey's Chocolate Blend, I realized how different this stuff can be.

I almost bought BFL, but I wasn't sure if it is worth it for me. I have already put on 15 lbs. and I am thinking that I am probably get just as useful information here as I can from his book. Am I right or wrong?

It's my thread and I'll crap if I want to!!!!!

:lol:

I almost bought BFL, but I wasn't sure if it is worth it for me. I have already put on 15 lbs. and I am thinking that I am probably get just as useful information here as I can from his book. Am I right or wrong?

I think it's a good book to have in your collection on the bookshelf. It's worth a read. Will you find just as good technical info here (JSF) regarding muscle gain, cardio work, how to properly execute a set? Probably. But it's still a great book to have IMO. The inspiration from it is pretty awesome. He's a great writer.

I almost bought BFL, but I wasn't sure if it is worth it for me. I have already put on 15 lbs. and I am thinking that I am probably get just as useful information here as I can from his book. Am I right or wrong?

I'd recommend the book ... the training diary/log is also good to have. It really forces you to think through getting everything set up correctly before you start.

I don't buy EAS simply because their prices are exhorbitant.

BFL, though not perfect, is I think almost a perfect _start_ for most people, since it distills down the main things and has a fairly decent approach to working out and losing weight/gaining muscle.

I think transformation shows will be on the rise. The Swan is one that deals primarily with plastic surgery. Biggest loser is one that deals with crash dieting. I suppose that if anybody can do one "properly" it may be Bill, since I imagine he'll put at least some prudency into the show.

People watch the swan and think "neat, if only I had that money". People watch the biggest loser and think "neat, if only I was so fat, and had so much time, plus a big cash award". People may watch a more realistic transformation show and think "neat, he did it, so can I. This show spelled out how to do it, and I'm going to give it a go".

I really appreciate how much Bill Philip's has contributed (and encouraged others to co contribute) to Make A Wish. While he is definitely cashing in, I am convinced that he has a pretty genuine message.

What do ya'll use in place of Myoplex? I can't take pill vitamins (stomach problems), so I take Myoplex for breakfast to get my daily vitamins.

I really appreciate how much Bill Philip's has contributed (and encouraged others to co contribute) to Make A Wish. While he is definitely cashing in, I am convinced that he has a pretty genuine message.

What do ya'll use in place of Myoplex? I can't take pill vitamins (stomach problems), so I take Myoplex for breakfast to get my daily vitamins.

I am currently using Muscle Milk (http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/cs/milk.html) as a protein shake/MRP, but I also use Animal Paks for my multi.