About a couple times a month I will encounter college-aged guys who will approach me in the gym seeking the secret to “getting ripped.” Also, at the hardware store etc., someone more of my vintage will say something like, “Can I have some of your muscles?” I would phrase it more correctly as long-term strength and vitality. They approach me wide-eyed looking for “the magic.” I guess they are anticipating insight into taking an anabolic, engaging in hormone replacement therapy, or some other performance enhancing drug protocol. I have been accused of taking “steroids” since probably high school or college. That used to feel like an insult, but I have come to take it as a compliment. It should be of no surprise, everyone is looking for a magic pill, supplement, device, or exercise that will be their path to vibrant health. That is an eternal universal desire and it will never end.
Suzanne Sommers introduced us to the Thigh Master. Through the years, we have seen everything from electronic stim for your abs to GLP-1. Maybe those things are viable engagement tools or function as some sort of placebo. Hey, if those things work for you, let it rip. There certainly are high-quality diet supplements, vitamins, minerals etc. that can be outstanding at helping you in your quest for health. Just be aware that what may appear to be a savior may actually be preying upon you.
From my point of view, the real secret to long-term vibrant health is finding a way to enjoy living that way. Enjoy the training, preparing the meals, the eating, the cardio, etc. Make the journey the destination. You don’t have to be an obsessive gym rat. Maybe you are better off on a bike or running on a trail. Long-term strength and vitality is not a temporary thing or a short-term habit, it’s a lifestyle. You can only live that way if it something that you truly enjoy. The good news is that your body is a very resilient and adaptive machine. You don’t need to suffer extreme dieting punctuated by cheat meals or other short-term fixes. Once you start to dial-in your lifestyle you will wonder how you could have eaten that other garbage for so long. Reset your mind and view your next 6 months as a step in your progression in the right direction. Also know that you can enjoy all of it. Then the following 6 months can be yet another step in that progression. Enjoy it and repeat forever.