Navigating through health and fitness targets, especially for those having a particular physique goal, is not the easiest task in the world. Yet, with an information overload and a mass of influencers dishing out quick fixes, things might seem easier. But Dr. Mike Israetel and Dr. Mike Varshavski recently sat down to discuss the sustainability and efficacy of such shortcuts in fitness.
Dr. Israetel has built his brand and YouTube channel around his USP – science-backed, logical, and evidence-based practices for fitness. But he firmly believed that people often stray from this path to seek quick fixes to help them get in shape.
The sense of urgency to hit their goal, combined with people’s unwillingness to get down and work hard, has paved the path for such shortcuts. Discussing how these trends emerge, the general practitioner agreed that the algorithm boosts content that contradicts informed science and is loud, dramatic, and extreme.
Dr. Israetel had a slightly positive outlook toward this case since he still felt there was room for logic to spread its reach. Misinformation is always at an all-time high, with several sources of content acting as a dumpster fire. However, he firmly believed that this dumpster fire was gradually declining.
“…I think eventually, you’ll get a situation in fitness where it’s much like modern medicine, where the preponderance of the information you get is pretty good…it’s pretty bad but improving steadily.”
When asked if he felt quick fixes in fitness were possible, Dr. Israetel disagreed and explained his stance. While in an ideal future, it was possible to see people hit their fitness goals in a jiffy, it wasn’t doable currently. Alternatively, every step taken towards fitness came with its set of drawbacks that one couldn’t negotiate with.
“There’s a bit of a difference…in terminology between a quick fix and a near panacea that requires some effort…for most people, substantially reducing their body fat…elevating their muscle mass, and increasing their daily physical activity, comes real close to being a near panacea.”
Does all of this mean that the path to achieving fitness goals will always be complicated to understand and follow? Dr. Israetel disagreed with that as well when he revealed his trick for a simple diet plan for optimum training.
Dr. Mike Israetel once discussed the easiest diet plan for wholesome nutrition
Exercise and diet go hand-in-hand when one has some serious fitness goals to achieve within a certain time frame. But with several food options and the ease of availability always being in question, it could get difficult for fitness enthusiasts to choose what food to eat and how much of it to consume in a day.
That’s where Dr. Israetel stepped in to issue a simple guideline for the ideal nutritional plan. He divided foods into four broad categories – lean protein, vegetables, fruits and grains, and healthy fats. These were listed in order of priority where lean protein is supposed to occupy most of the meal plan. This, he believed, was helpful for beginners to get started on their fitness journey.
