Canadian IFBB Pro Greg Doucette Attacks Brian Shaw

Greg Doucette is a well-known Canadian IFBB Pro, that took to his YouTube channel in response to a video posted by Brian Shaw. The video Shaw had posted was a day of eating, showing his fans what his 5,500 calorie-cutting diet looked like. Brian is working on a personal transformation in which he aims to achieve a leaner, more athletic physique and to improve his overall body composition. He walked us through his 5 meals for the day, with a heavy emphasis on the fact that he's starving.

While Doucette made it noticeably clear that he's not setting out to trash-talk Brian Shaw, as he's doing a great job in pursuing a goal of healthier living. Greg took the time to critique his diet to help him make better choices while following a cutting diet. In every meal, Doucette finds errors in macros and calorie calculations, as well as just poor choices in food options for someone that feels like they are in a constant state of starvation.

In addition to simple errors in calculating how many calories are in the foods Brian has chosen, Greg points out alternate options for food choices that Shaw could have made in his meals, plus the lack of vegetables in his diet. If Brian was to shift to lower-calorie, nutrient-dense foods, he would be able to maintain the same lower-calorie diet, without the starvation he is experiencing on the plan he's following.

A good example of how even top-tier athletes can make mistakes when calculating their macros and overall calorie intake is seen in Brian’s explanation of his pre-workout protein shake. Shaw explains that he needs to take in 65 grams of protein in his shake. Each scoop provides 26 grams of protein, so he needs 2 and almost ¾ scoops of protein powder. Greg points out the simple math of this equation. Two scoops of protein at 26 grams per scoop gives you 52 grams, leaving another 13 grams needed. Half of 26 is 13, which means Brian would only need 2 1/2 scoops of protein powder to get his required 65 grams of protein (not 2 3/4 scoops!) Splitting hairs a bit but you get the picture.

Brian Shaw's DEXA Scan Inaccurate?

Greg even takes time to point out that there is no way Brian’s DEXA scan showing an overall body fat of 17.9% could be accurate. For a coach that's been in this business for 27 years, Doucette says he can clearly see that Shaw’s physique is carrying a much higher body fat percentage than the scan technician is reporting to him.

Brian Shaw did take the time to respond to Doucette’s video critique of his diet. While he gave Doucette a great amount of respect, Shaw goes on to say that he puts his trust in his nutritionist, Nathan Payton. This is an initial phase for Shaw’s diet, and they will be making changes soon. While he does feel Greg made some very good points, he feels that much of his recommendations just wouldn’t apply to his situation.

“What I want to say guys, is I never put this out, I never one time said I’m trying to be the example for someone to cut down,” Shaw said. “I am simply showing you guys a behind the scenes look at what I’m doing, but my diet is made specifically for me, tailored for me. So, I think in some way, Greg was kind of thinking that I was trying to push that diet for other people that are losing weight.”

Although Greg’s advice is good for the majority of people, Shaw feels that strongmen are just a different breed when it comes to diet and nutrition. Brian has a great team behind him in his transformation and feels confident in the path he is on.

It is good to see that someone, as experienced as Greg Doucette, has taken the time to critique Shaw’s nutrition. He's even offered better options to help him reach his goals in an easier way. Whether Brian takes any of the advice or not, we are happy to see Shaw working on improving his health and we wish him nothing but the best in his journey.

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