Harley Pasternak is well known as a trainer to celebrities and a New York Times bestselling author.
He is also a University of Toronto alumnus, with a master’s degree in exercise sciences and community health.
This week, Pasternak returned to U of T via Zoom to present his new book, The Carb Reset, in conversation with Ira Jacobs, a professor at the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, and Pasternak’s graduate thesis supervisor.
Jacobs supervised Pasternak while working as a scientist for the Defence and Civil Institute of Environmental Medicine, a human sciences Research & Development establishment funded by the Department of National Defence to support the Canadian Armed Forces.
He had a non-salaried, status-only professor appointment at U of T, which allowed him to supervise grad students doing their thesis research at his lab - and Pasternak was one of them. Together, they published a study looking into the effects of ephedrine and caffeine on muscular endurance.
While Pasternak eventually branched out into the fitness industry, helping Hollywood stars like Halle Barry get into shape for movie roles, he continues to lean into his academic training when developing training regimens and meal plans for his clients.
“That’s what sets him apart,” said Jacobs, who spoke of his pride at seeing a former student apply his education to such good use and with so much success, a sentiment shared also by Professor Gretchen Kerr, dean of KPE, who welcomed Pasternak on behalf of the Faculty.
Pasternak shared that Halle Barry and Oprah Winfrey were the ones who set him on the path of writing books. Barry called him one day, while they were training for the film Catwoman, and said she was having lunch with Oprah Winfrey, who wanted to talk to him.
“She wanted to know what program I used to get Halle into such great shape,” said Pasternak. “I started to explain the science behind it, but halfway through she told me she was bored and that I needed to come up with a catchier name, write the book and she’d have me on her show.”
In response, Pasternak came up with the concept of five simple (not to be confused with easy) steps to a healthier lifestyle and wrote The 5-Factor Diet, followed by The 5-Factor Fitness and a number of other books leading up to his latest, The Carb Reset, which he describes as “a reaction to all the nutrition misinformation out there in the digital world.”
“You have people writing about extreme approaches to health, saying don’t ever eat this or only eat this,” said Pasternak. “But many of these claims are not founded in science – like the one that carbohydrates are bad for us.”
His book is an attempt to help readers reset their approach to carbohydrates specifically and food in general by applying a balanced approach to eating.
“It’s hard to stick to a diet that’s too restrictive or that uses elaborate ingredients or complicated equipment,” said Pasternak. “What I’m suggesting in my book is that you don’t need to eliminate anything from your diet and that there is a time and room for everything in certain amounts.
“You’re supposed to be excited about the food you eat, not dread it.”
Pasternak answered a number of questions from the audience and stressed the importance of staying connected to his alma mater.
“There are no alternatives to evidence-based knowledge,” says Pasternak. “I’m honored to be affiliated with an institution like U of T that generates knowledge that’s honest, real and helpful.”
Watch the full conversation below: