I Went Meat-Free for a Week—Here’s What Happened

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I Went Meat-Free for a Week—Here’s What Happened

PLUS: The Orgasm Finishing Gap. Is it a thing?

Keith Bilous

May 16, 2025

Transcript

Here is a Substack post about episode #2049, drawing on the provided source material:

Episode #2049: From Meat-Free Experiments to Orgasm Gaps – Inside the Lab

Welcome to the latest recap from Mornings in the Lab with Keith and friends, your daily accountability partner and live morning show for men.

In this episode, we tackled a wide range of topics designed to help you start your day right men, build morning momentum men, and ultimately win at life. It's a show that encourages you to beat the snooze button and embrace daily morning motivation.

Kicking off the episode on a high note, celebrating a Winnipeg Jets win, the conversation quickly dove into the unfiltered, R-rated nature of the show, reminding listeners to keep kids out of earshot.

Despite some technical hiccups early on with Johnny's feed, the show powered through, discussing guest experiences and the importance of staying authentic. Jon emphasized that this show is an extension of himself, reflecting a life often misunderstood but deeply soulful. We learned that the true metric of the show's success isn't the audience numbers, but whether Keith and Jon feel they are getting better from being there.

The discussion then turned to surprising scientific insights about aging and physical well-being. We explored why your drive to exercise tanks after 49 years old. Researchers from Northeastern University found that functional connectivity in brain regions linked to motivation and self-regulation begins to decline after age 49. These areas, including parts of the salience network, are crucial for prioritizing healthy behaviors like exercise. The key takeaway? This shift underscores the importance of having strong discipline and habits in place before you reach this age, so you aren't solely reliant on motivation.

Another fascinating study from the University of Toronto highlighted why morning people might secretly be winning at life. Early risers report significantly higher happiness and productivity, even accounting for factors like income and exercise. This could be linked to less "social jet lag" due to their biological clocks aligning better with typical schedules, natural morning light boosting energy and reducing depression, and a tendency to anticipate challenges and take initiative. This resonates with the idea of a proactive rather than reactive lifestyle.

In a segment titled "I Went Meat-Free for a Week—Here’s What Happened," Keith shared his personal experiment. While initially trying alternative options like Beyond Beef, he noticed changes in digestion, describing "shitting a forest". His increasing knowledge about the ingredients in alternative meats led him back to choosing grass-fed organic ground beef instead. Jon noted that consuming less quality meat could lead to the body feeling toxic.

The conversation also touched on the hidden dangers of caffeine overload, using the cautionary tale of a 42-year-old Marine veteran who nearly died after mixing a 500mg caffeine pre-workout with his morning coffee, leading to cardiac arrest. Doctors warn that exercise amplifies cardiac risk when caffeine exceeds 400mg in a short window. The key message for the audience? Read your labels and be aware of how much caffeine you're consuming, especially in pre-workout supplements. Jon added that stimulants can be particularly worse when you are tired, suggesting other factors might have contributed to the Marine's situation, like poor sleep or training intensity.

A particularly sobering topic addressed the alarming trend of ultra-processed foods and sugary drinks speeding up puberty in children. A new study found that girls consuming high levels of these foods are starting their periods about five months sooner than peers with healthier diets. This isn't just a small shift; early puberty is linked to increased risks of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and even certain cancers. Keith and Jon lamented the prevalence of overweight and obese children, questioning if highly processed substances should even be called "food".

Throughout the show, the theme of habit formation and daily accountability was central. Keith and Jon revisited the idea that mindset is crucial, but discipline and habits are arguably more than everything. Drawing on Jon's concept of naps as meditation and accessing subconscious clarity, they discussed morning habit stacking – linking positive actions to existing morning routines like brushing teeth or getting in the car. Examples included the man who learned guitar while showering, parking further away and walking for blood flow before entering a building, or simply drinking a glass of water after using the bathroom first thing in the morning. These simple physical actions offer a low barrier to entry for building momentum and making better decisions. This focus on morning routine consistency and morning habit formation helps program your reticular activating system to seek more productive actions.

In a candid conversation, the orgasm gap was explored – the disparity in sexual satisfaction between men and women in heterosexual relationships. Studies show men climax in about 90% of heterosexual encounters, while women do so only around 54% of the time. This gap almost disappears when women masturbate or in lesbian relationships, suggesting it's often relational and cultural, not purely physiological. The discussion emphasized the importance of communication and prioritizing the partner's pleasure, offering practical tips like focusing on foreplay and being attentive. Personal anecdotes highlighted the male ego involved and the challenge of premature ejaculation, with advice ranging from "empty the clip" beforehand to the technique of "kissing it back".

The episode also celebrated community members and spotlighted creators like Alfie Brown on LinkedIn (visibility for business), Maureen (intentionality with important dates), Kevin on TikTok (letting people exist), The Caring Techies (listening as a skill), Darshak Rana (movement is a gift), Jonathan Pransky (systems over work ethic), and Marcel Melig (fashion market pulse).

From navigating fitness challenges after 49 and understanding brain shifts to the critical link between processed foods and childhood health, caffeine awareness, the power of starting your day right as a morning mindset reset men, implementing morning habit stacking, and even discussing intimate topics like the orgasm gap, this episode of Mornings in the Lab delivered on its promise to be your live morning accountability session.

Tune in every day for your dose of morning mental health routine checks, morning movement routine men insights, and to build that crucial morning routine consistency. We're here to help you get after it!