The Diary Of A CEO
Poor cardiorespiratory fitness elevates all-cause mortality risk by roughly 300%, far exceeding the risks posed by smoking or diabetes.
AI-assisted summary of The Muscle Growth Doctor: Exercise At Night Is A Terrible Idea! Grip Strength = Disease! Andy Galpin — original source. Check the original for full context.
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## Background This episode of The Diary Of A CEO, hosted by Steven Bartlett and published on YouTube on February 26, 2024, features Dr. Andy Galpin, PhD, a Professor of Kinesiology at California State University, Fullerton and founder of the Biochemistry and Molecular Exercise Physiology Laboratory. The episode focuses on human physical and cognitive performance, sleep architecture, training strategies for longevity, and optimizing blood markers.
## TL;DR Dr. Andy Galpin presents a comprehensive, evidence-based roadmap for optimizing health, sleep, and physical longevity. He breaks down critical health indicators such as grip strength, heart rate variability (HRV), and VO2 max, explaining how low VO2 max and poor muscular health carry significantly higher all-cause mortality risks than traditional risk factors like smoking or diabetes. Galpin highlights practical strategies for restorative sleep, including managing room CO2 levels and avoiding late-night high-intensity workouts, while explaining protein timing, strength training sequence, and the physiological importance of maintaining tissue plasticity as we age.
## Atmosphere & style The conversation carries an engaging, intellectually rigorous, and authoritative tone, blending deep academic kinesiology with pragmatic, real-world health optimization. Steven Bartlett serves as an inquisitive host, guiding the dialogue while Galpin delivers sharp, candid insights with high clarity and conviction. The dialogue transitions smoothly between scientific analysis of biomarkers and relatable lifestyle adjustments, creating a serious yet empowering experience for the listener.
## Key takeaways - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=0s) Low grip strength serves as a key clinical indicator for neuromuscular health, while low VO2 max is a far stronger predictor of all-cause mortality than traditional risk factors like smoking or diabetes. - [02:49](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=169s) Human performance encompasses three universal pillars—how a person looks, feels, and performs—and genetics do not completely block physical progress. - [14:21](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=861s) True performance optimization requires identifying and removing hidden internal stressors (such as micronutrient deficiencies or endocrine disruptions) before aggressive training or dietary interventions are applied. - [23:35](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=1415s) Standard blood panel reference ranges are derived from general, often unhealthy populations, making them misleading for identifying optimal biological health markers. - [28:20](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=1700s) Physiological systems function as push-pull networks, meaning treating isolated blood markers directly without addressing root causes can disrupt biological balance. - [33:34](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=2014s) Sleep architecture disruptions stem from four distinct buckets—environmental, behavioral, physiological, and psychological—and high-dose melatonin can cause prolonged daytime sedation. - [42:57](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=2577s) Sleep extension produces measurable performance and recovery gains, whereas sleep debt cannot be undone on weekends; daily sleep consistency within a short window is essential. - [50:49](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=3049s) Aligning high-stakes tasks or physical activity with natural biological circadian times yields significant performance advantages, while late-night high-intensity workouts disrupt HRV and sleep quality. - [55:02](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=3302s) Elevated ambient bedroom CO2 levels impair respiration and sleep quality, triggering sympathetic nervous system activation and elevating resting heart rate. - [01:12:06](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=4326s) Severe carbohydrate restriction can elevate SHBG and lower free testosterone, impairing HRV and sleep, which can be reversed by strategically reintroducing complex carbohydrates. - [01:22:14](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=4934s) Incorporating zero-input mental breaks throughout the day reduces central nervous system arousal and helps audit cumulative daily stress. - [01:33:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=5580s) For muscle growth, daily total calorie and protein intake matter far more than protein timing or meal frequency, requiring a modest caloric surplus. - [01:36:56](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=5816s) Maintaining speed, power, and lower-body strength is vital for older adults to prevent falls and avoid the high mortality risks associated with hip fractures. - [01:44:41](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=6281s) Falling below the critical VO2 max 'line of independence' makes everyday physical tasks max-exertion events, but tissue plasticity remains high and adaptable even in late age. - [01:52:02](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=6722s) VO2 max can be effectively built through a combination of long, steady low-intensity sessions and short high-intensity intervals. - [01:54:21](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=6861s) To drive muscle hypertrophy while minimizing injury, training schedules should balance variation with specificity by altering 1 to 2 variables by no more than 10% weekly. - [01:58:31](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=7111s) Creatine is safe, effective for strength gains, and offers non-muscular benefits such as supporting bone density and brain energy resynthesis. - [02:11:08](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=7868s) When combining exercise modalities in a single workout, strength training should be performed before endurance work to avoid premature fatigue and force production loss. - [02:16:16](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=8176s) Completely eliminating physical stressors causes biological degradation, requiring individuals to intentionally direct physical stress to maintain overall health.
## Detailed walkthrough ### [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=0s) Master Metrics: Grip Strength, VO2 Max, and Aging
The ultimate determinants of longevity and lifelong performance do not come down to minor details or quick fixes, but to core physiological markers. Grip strength, leg strength, and $\text{VO}_2$ max act as extraordinarily powerful predictors of how long and how well a person will live. In fact, low grip strength serves as a clinical window into neuromuscular health and can help predict cognitive decline, including the risk of Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Similarly, maintaining leg strength is vital for preventing falls in older age—a crisis where a hip fracture in someone over 60 carries an alarming 70% mortality rate over the following 15 years.
$\text{VO}_2$ max—the maximum capacity of the body to ingest, transport, and utilize oxygen—stands out as perhaps the single most impactful metric for all-cause mortality. In a massive study examining 750,000 individuals, traditional risk factors like smoking and diabetes were found to increase the risk of dying by roughly 40%, whereas having a low $\text{VO}_2$ max elevated mortality risk by an astounding 300%. Despite these stark figures, there is no genetic wall or physiological limitation that prevents an individual from gaining strength, dropping fat, or building cardiovascular capacity if they focus consistently on the foundational drivers of health.
- **Mortality Risk Factors:** Smoking and diabetes increase all-cause mortality risk by ~40%, whereas low $\text{VO}_2$ max increases it by ~300%. - **Post-Fall Mortality:** A hip fracture in adults aged 60+ leads to a 70% mortality rate within 15 years. - **Core Longevity Biomarkers:** Grip strength (predicts dementia/Alzheimer's), leg strength (prevents fatal falls), and $\text{VO}_2$ max.
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[02:49](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=169s) Enhancing Human Performance Across All Domains
True human performance extends far beyond organized sports or elite athletics. It encompasses three universal pillars: how a person **looks**, how they **feel**, and how they **perform**—cognitively, physically, and emotionally. Whether an individual aims to gain muscle, eliminate chronic pain, lead a company, or simply have enough energy to play with their children and be a better spouse, these goals are all governed by adaptable physiological systems.
Dr. Andy Galpin emphasizes that no scientific literature suggests a person's genetics completely block them from making progress. Everyone has the biological capacity to build muscle, lose weight, and enhance their physical resilience. The primary objective of performance science is to identify personal goals and systematically systematically remove the physiological roadblocks preventing that progress.
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[04:54](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=294s) The Origin: Growing Up with Work Ethic and Control
Dr. Galpin's obsession with human performance stems from his upbringing in a hard-working, rural family. Raised by a construction-worker father and a supportive mother alongside his siblings and grandparents, he grew up surrounded by sports. Recognizing that he was an "adequate athlete"—good, but not naturally exceptional—his family instilled in him a foundational philosophy: no one owes you anything in this world, and if you want to succeed, you have to outwork everyone else.
Becoming visibly emotional while sharing aspects of his background rarely discussed in public, Dr. Galpin reflects on the quiet hardships and financial struggles his family faced during his childhood. Despite those tough breaks, his parents maintained a strictly positive environment devoid of alcohol, violence, or negativity, pushing him to go to college so he wouldn't have to endure the physical toll of manual labor. For Dr. Galpin, studying exercise science and human performance represented something profoundly liberating: in a world full of external circumstances beyond one's control, your health, physical strength, and effort are factors you *can* completely control and use to build a better life.
> "There's a lot of things that people will go through in life that are out of their control. To me, this represents stuff that will be within your control. And so I give you the chance to make changes that you can control—your strength and your health—at least you got that."
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[10:37](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=637s) Academic Background and the Center for Sport Performance
Dr. Galpin built his expertise through an extensive academic career, earning an undergraduate degree in exercise science (kinesiology), a master's degree in human movement sciences, and a PhD in human bioenergetics. Immediately following his doctoral studies, he established his laboratory at California State University, Fullerton, where he serves as Co-Director of the Center for Sport Performance. The Center houses specialized laboratories dedicated to biomechanics, strength and conditioning, motor control, and motor learning, all focused on researching and disseminating methods to enhance human performance.
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[11:36](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=696s) From Elite Athletes to High-Performing Executives
While Dr. Galpin spent much of his career coaching world-class athletes—including Olympic gold and silver medalists, world champions, top PGA golfers, and All-Pro NFL players across every position—his coaching organization, Rapid Health and Performance, now works predominantly with corporate executives and everyday adults. These individuals often fall into two categories: adult athletes training for events like marathons, or busy professionals who have tried various diets and routines for years without achieving sustainable results or quality sleep.
To eliminate guesswork for clients who value time over money, Dr. Galpin’s team conducts exhaustive, high-level testing. This includes 3D volumetric measurements of individual muscles, $\text{VO}_2$ max testing, deep cognitive and sleep assessments, and home environmental evaluations. The goal is to uncover hidden "performance anchors"—physiological constraints holding the body back.
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[14:21](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=861s) Identifying the "Left Foot on the Brake" and Hidden Stressors
When people want to improve their health or performance, their instinct is usually to "hit the gas pedal" by adding more exercise, taking new supplements, or jumping onto aggressive diets. However, Dr. Galpin uses the analogy of checking your left foot to ensure you aren't riding the brake pedal before pressing the accelerator. In human biology, these "brakes" are stressors that overload the system and prevent optimal adaptation.
Stressors fall into two primary categories: 1. **Visible Stressors:** Conscious behaviors and lifestyle habits that you can directly feel and identify, such as intense workouts, excessive alcohol consumption, poor diet, smoking, and blatant sleep deprivation. 2. **Hidden Stressors:** Underlying biological or environmental strains that put equal or greater stress on the system without causing immediate, obvious sensations. Examples include subclinical vitamin or mineral deficiencies, chronic oxidative stress, immune system suppression, endocrine imbalances, and undetected sleep architecture disruptions.
In several instances, deep diagnostic testing of these hidden stressors has uncovered critical cardiovascular risks in individuals who assumed their sleep and health were fine, effectively saving them from impending heart attacks by directing them to immediate medical care.
- **Visible Stressors:** Alcohol, heavy workouts, junk food, poor sleep hygiene, smoking. - **Hidden Stressors:** Micronutrient deficiencies, latent pathogens, endocrine disruption, oxidative stress, subclinical sleep apnea/disruptions. - **Diagnostic Objective:** Identify and remove hidden physiological anchors before applying aggressive training or dietary interventions.
[017:46] Predicting Health Risks and Neurological Decline Through Grip Strength
Grip strength serves as a surprisingly accurate mirror for overall physiological health, acting as an early indicator for conditions far beyond simple hand function. Dr. Andy Galpin references a study led by neuroscientist Dr. Tommy Wood from the University of Washington, which demonstrated that grip strength testing can actually predict individual risk for Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Validating these findings across massive datasets—including the UK Biobank (comprising roughly 500,000 individuals) and its American counterpart, NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey)—researchers can now estimate overall muscle quality and cognitive risk from just four basic blood biomarkers tied directly to grip strength.
Furthermore, a person's grip strength asymmetry—a performance difference greater than 10% between the right and left hands—can signal early neurological decline. Because muscle contraction relies entirely on signal transmission from the central nervous system, a significant discrepancy (such as squeezing 40 kilograms with the right hand but only 30 kilograms with the left) may indicate early denervation on the weaker side. While side-to-side differences can occasionally stem from sport-specific or occupational habits, significant asymmetry in the average person often reveals underlying allostatic load—the cumulative biological strain and hidden physiological stress on the body.
- **Key Studies & Datasets:** Dr. Tommy Wood (University of Washington); UK Biobank (~500,000 participants); NHANES (US equivalent). - **Asymmetry Threshold:** A >10% strength gap between hands (e.g., 40 kg vs. 30 kg) suggests potential early nervous system degradation. - **Biomarkers:** Four core blood markers correlate directly with muscle quality, grip strength, and dementia risk.
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[020:51] The Hidden Impact of Vitamin D and the Safety of Supplementation
When host Steven Bartlett shares that his partner was diagnosed with a severe vitamin D deficiency after feeling unwell, Dr. Galpin explains how ubiquitous and deceptively quiet vitamin deficiencies can be. Vitamin D plays a vital role across multiple biological systems; low levels are tied to reduced bone mineral density, diminished muscle size and strength, compromised immune function, impaired cognitive capacity, and poor mental health. Because its symptoms overlap with general fatigue or everyday stress, millions of people walk around subclinically deficient without realizing it.
Unlike many trace minerals or fat-soluble vitamins that require strict dosing to avoid toxicity, vitamin D has an exceptionally high safety profile. While direct sunlight exposure remains the ideal natural source, Dr. Galpin endorses moderate to high-dose vitamin D supplementation even without formal lab testing, noting that the probability of being low is high while the risk of adverse effects is minimal.
- **Associated Deficiencies:** Low vitamin D impacts bone density, muscle mass, cognitive capacity, immune response, and mood. - **Safety Profile:** Highly forgiving compared to mineral supplementation, making it a safe choice for empirical supplementation when blood work isn't accessible.
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[023:35] Why Standard Blood Panel Reference Ranges Are Misleading
Interpreting routine laboratory work requires a critical understanding of how "reference ranges" are constructed. When patients receive standard panels like a Complete Blood Count (CBC) or Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP), the lab compares their results against a bell-curve range (typically the 95th percentile). However, these reference ranges are derived from general population databases like NHANES, which represent a population that is increasingly unhealthy, sedentary, and metabolically compromised. Consequently, being marked as "normal" on a lab sheet merely means an individual falls near the average of an unhealthy population—not that they are functioning optimally.
A striking example of this flaw appears in fasting blood glucose readings. While a truly healthy fasting glucose level sits in the low-to-mid 80s mg/dL, many commercial laboratory reference ranges do not flag high glucose until it surpasses 110 or 120 mg/dL (approaching clinical prediabetes or diabetes). Yet, scientific evidence demonstrates that fasting glucose consistently above 95 mg/dL significantly increases the risk of oxidative stress, retinopathy, and vascular damage. Thus, a person can walk away from a routine doctor's visit with a "clean" bill of health while operating in a state of marked physiological dysfunction.
``` Fasting Glucose Spectrum (mg/dL) [ 80 - 85 ] --> Optimal Health [ > 95 ] --> Increased risk of oxidative stress & vascular damage [ 110-120+] --> Standard Lab Flag (Clinical Prediabetes/Diabetes) ```
- **Standard Panels:** Complete Blood Count (CBC) and Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP). - **Statistical Flaws:** Reference ranges rely on a standard 95% bell curve of the general public, lumping 94th-percentile unhealthy values into the "normal" bracket. - **Database Variations:** Each commercial lab testing company uses its own internal database to establish normal ranges rather than uniform health standards.
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[028:20] Physiology as a Push-Pull System: Root Causes vs. Marker Chasing
A primary mistake in self-directed healthcare or amateur blood work interpretation is treat-to-target "marker chasing"—attempting to artificially raise low numbers or lower high numbers with quick-fix supplements or drugs without addressing root causes. Human physiology operates as a delicate push-pull system; forcing one biological lever up inevitably depresses another. A prime example is suppressed testosterone. Rather than immediately resorting to exogenous hormone replacement therapy (HRT), Dr. Galpin emphasizes investigating *why* the endocrine system is suppressed. Suppressed testosterone is frequently a symptom of subclinical immune stress, ongoing inflammation, or environmental triggers. Addressing these underlying root causes often restores endogenous testosterone levels naturally without synthetic intervention.
To illustrate this dynamic, Dr. Galpin shares an anecdote from his colleague Dan Garner involving an athlete whose basophils—a type of white blood cell involved in allergic responses—were severely elevated. Despite following a rigorous training and nutrition plan, the athlete's testosterone remained suppressed. Garner traced the issue to a specific flowering tree in the athlete's neighborhood that was provoking a chronic allergic reaction. Once the athlete avoided the tree, his basophil levels normalized, and his natural testosterone "rocketed" back up.
- **Endocrine Recovery:** Dr. Galpin's team has repeatedly doubled clients' natural testosterone levels without using exogenous hormones by resolving underlying systemic stressors. - **Immune-Hormone Interplay:** Chronic subclinical immune activation (such as environmental allergies) diverts physiological resources away from anabolic hormone production.
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[030:05] Decoding Masked Biomarkers: The Case of Albumin and Hydration
Understanding complex biomarker interactions prevents misinterpreting deceptive lab results. Dr. Galpin highlights albumin—a primary liver-synthesized protein found in egg whites that carries cortisol and red blood cells through the bloodstream. Albumin functions as an acute-phase reactant, and its plasma concentration offers a precise look into hydration status. When a person becomes dehydrated, total blood volume drops, causing the concentration of albumin to appear elevated on a standard panel.
Conversely, systemic inflammation drives albumin concentrations *down*. When an individual is simultaneously dehydrated and inflamed, these two opposing physiological forces cancel each other out on paper. The result is an albumin reading that appears dead-center in the "normal" range, hiding both dehydration and inflammation from an untrained observer. Attempting to intervene directly on the albumin marker itself would be counterproductive, whereas the actual solution simply requires increasing hydration and clearing systemic inflammation.
- **Albumin Dynamics:** Elevated by dehydration (due to hemoconcentration); lowered by systemic inflammation. - **Confounding Results:** Simultaneous dehydration and inflammation produce a deceptively "normal" mid-range reading.
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[032:23] Assessing the Foundations of Performance: Advanced Sleep Diagnostics
When stepping back from pharmaceutical and supplement interventions, sleep emerges as arguably the single most critical foundation for human performance and longevity. Addressing widespread sleep issues requires moving past basic self-assessments of sleep duration and digging into exact sleep architecture and sleep quality.
To diagnose and fix persistent sleep issues, Dr. Galpin's team at his specialized company, Absolute Rest, builds full functional sleep laboratories directly inside clients' homes. By gathering comprehensive, multi-night diagnostic data in the subject's natural sleeping environment rather than an unfamiliar clinic, they pinpoint the exact physiological mechanics disrupting restorative sleep.
- **Absolute Rest:** Dr. Galpin's specialized organization dedicated to conducting comprehensive, in-home sleep lab diagnostics to resolve complex performance bottlenecks.
<FollowUp label="Want to explore how to set up an optimal sleep environment based on Dr. Galpin's research?" query="What environmental factors and setup strategies does Dr. Andy Galpin recommend for optimal, restorative sleep?"/>
[33:34](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=2014s) Comprehensive Sleep Diagnostics and the Four Buckets of Sleep Quality
Dr. Andy Galpin outlines how his team at Absolute Rest conducts fully wireless, clinical-grade, FDA-approved sleep studies directly inside a client’s home—eliminating the need for hospital stays. While the scientific gold standard is traditionally polysomnography (PSG)—which involves wires attached to the brain and body—Dr. Galpin prefers utilizing cardiopulmonary coupling alongside PSG. This approach monitors how the autonomic nervous system actually responds, while tracking jaw clenching (bruxism), leg movements, exact sleeping positions, ocular metrics, eye tracking, and facial scanning.
To uncover why a person is struggling to sleep, Dr. Galpin's framework categorizes root causes into four distinct buckets: * **Environmental:** Real-time, continuous environmental scanning of temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide ($CO_2$), dander, pollen, allergens, and mold using portable scanning devices. * **Behavioral:** Basic sleep hygiene practices, such as avoiding thrilling TV shows or working on laptops right before attempting to sleep. * **Physiological:** Analyzing blood and salivary biomarkers to track melatonin concentrations, serotonin, dopamine, blood biochemistry precursors, iron levels, and B vitamins. * **Psychological:** Assessing trauma, PTSD, and negative associations with sleep. Dr. Galpin emphasizes that many individuals develop sleep disorders purely from the anxiety of anticipating a poor night's sleep, causing them to fall asleep on the couch only to stay awake in bed, or to wake up wide awake after just two to three hours.
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[37:21](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=2241s) Breaking Negative Sleep Cycles with Sleep Restriction Training
When behavioral and psychological patterns train the body to stay awake in bed or wake up repeatedly during the night, Dr. Galpin explains that the body simply adapts to and repeats that bad pattern. To break this, he shares a brutal yet highly effective tool called **Sleep Restriction Training**. For instance, if an individual usually wakes up at 5:00 AM but struggles with fragmented sleep all night, Dr. Galpin instructs them to enforce a strict wake-up time of 5:00 AM while delaying their bedtime until 11:59 PM, capping total potential sleep at five hours. Naps and weekend sleep-ins are strictly forbidden.
Additionally, Dr. Galpin warns against relying on heavy doses of exogenous melatonin, noting that clients often show next-morning melatonin levels 20 to 40 times higher than the upper limit of normal reference ranges, leaving them heavily sedated throughout the day. Under Sleep Restriction Training, after a rough initial period, the body quickly adapts to the tight five-hour window, accelerating deep sleep entry and compressing sleep architecture. Each subsequent week, 10 to 15 minutes are added back to the bedtime (e.g., going to bed at 11:45 PM the second week) until the individual backfills up to an eight or eight-and-a-half-hour sleep schedule, completely retraining the brain to fall asleep fast and stay asleep.
* **Bedtime Reconditioning:** If you are tossing and turning in bed, sleep scientists advise getting out of bed immediately to avoid reinforcing the pattern of lying awake. * **Morning Stimulus Antidote:** Avoid reaching for phones or turning on TVs immediately upon waking. The body anticipates this morning stimulation and will release cortisol and arousal signals earlier and earlier (e.g., waking you at 5:15 AM for a 6:00 AM alarm).
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[42:57](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=2577s) Sleep Extension: Moving from "Good" to Peak Performance
Addressing the common baseline rule of eight hours of sleep, Dr. Galpin notes that while seven to seven-and-a-half hours may be adequate for long-term health and minimizing disease risk, maximizing performance requires more. He cites seminal sleep extension research conducted by Cheri Mah at Stanford University on Division I basketball players. By extending their sleep in-season by roughly 1.8 hours per night (targeting 10 hours in bed) over five to eight weeks, the team experienced dramatic, measurable performance benefits across repeated weekly testing.
Dr. Galpin highlights that sleep extension findings have been replicated across tennis, swimming, cycling, and rugby. Even subtle additions—such as 30 to 45 extra minutes of sleep per night for three days—have yielded significant physiological gains: * **Basketball Performance (Cheri Mah study):** A ~9% improvement in free throw percentage, a ~9% improvement in three-point shooting percentage, faster reaction times, reduced daytime sleepiness, and improved mood. * **Physiological Markers:** A 20% reduction in cortisol levels (shown in rugby players), reduced body fat, improved $\text{VO}_2$ max, and a 4-fold reduction in the likelihood of catching a cold with just 30 additional minutes of sleep per night. * **Overall Impact:** Across varied athlete populations and scientific labs, extending sleep by 45 minutes to 2 hours per night consistently yields a 3% to 10% improvement in performance metrics.
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[48:32](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=2912s) The Reality of Sleep Debt
Addressing the common illusion that one can sleep four hours during the week and "make it up" on the weekend, Dr. Galpin quotes his Absolute Rest colleague, Dr. Steven Lockley from Harvard: "You can't time travel." One cannot go backward in time to undo the biological damage caused by acute sleep deprivation on a specific night.
[49:10](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=2950s) The Misconceptions of Sleep Debt and Consistency
Dr. Andy Galpin addresses the nuance of sleep debt, agreeing that while a person can recover from a short-term period of diminished sleep, it is a severe mistake to treat sleep like a bank account where total hours over seven days can be balanced out arbitrarily. Sleeping five hours on weekdays and trying to "catch up" with twelve hours on weekends does not restore optimal physiological function. Sleep scientists universally agree that sleep consistency—going to bed and waking up at roughly the same time every single day—is often more critical than total sleep duration alone.
Dr. Galpin recommends aiming for a consistent sleep-wake window within plus or minus 20 to 30 minutes, though he allows a 45-minute grace period for real-world flexibility. Simply stabilizing this routine can unlock many of the physiological benefits typically associated with longer duration.
- **Sleep Consistency Goal:** Wake up and go to sleep within a 20- to 30-minute window daily. - **Grace Period:** Up to 45 minutes of variation is acceptable for normal human routines. - **Sleep Quality Assessment:** The vast majority of people have never had an accurate, objective measurement of their actual sleep quality.
[50:49](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=3049s) The Power of Doing Tasks at Your Usual Circadian Times
Beyond duration and quality, sleep timing and circadian consistency play a massive role in physical and cognitive performance. Dr. Galpin shares data from professional sports leagues—including the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB over a 30-year span—showing that win percentages can be predicted by whether a team is competing at their normal biological circadian time rather than their home time zone. A West Coast team traveling to the East Coast retains a 2% to 4% competitive advantage if the game occurs at the time they usually play, while home teams forced to play outside their typical circadian window suffer performance drops.
This principle extends to corporate strategy and high-stakes decision-making. Dr. Galpin advises executive clients to schedule intense negotiations or critical meetings during their own peak local circadian times while catching opponents off-schedule, leveraging their reduced cognitive performance.
- **Sports Data:** 30 years of data across major US sports leagues shows a 2% to 4% performance advantage when competing at normal circadian times. - **Case Example:** Dr. Galpin worked with the University of Washington football team on managing circadian schedules during cross-country travel. - **Executive Application:** Schedule high-stakes negotiations when your opponent is operating outside their normal biological rhythm (e.g., forcing an East Coast executive into a late-evening West Coast meeting).
[53:18](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=3198s) How Late-Night Workouts Disrupt Sleep and Recovery
Addressing host Steven Bartlett's habit of hitting the gym at midnight due to a busy schedule, Dr. Galpin warns against high-intensity late-night workouts. Intense exercise triggers a spike in sympathetic nervous system activity (fight-or-flight), elevating heart rate, core body temperature, and stress hormones. The physiological "carryover" or recovery window from a hard workout can last anywhere from two to six hours depending on individual resilience, severely impairing sleep quality, heart rate variability (HRV), and body fat loss efforts.
For individuals who have no choice but to train in the evening, Dr. Galpin advises shifting the nature of the workout. Instead of heavy lifting or high-intensity intervals, evening sessions should consist of short, restorative, low-neurological-strain movement designed to get a light sweat without spiking the heart rate.
- **Recovery Carryover:** High-intensity exercise elevated markers can persist for 2 to 6 hours after a workout. - **Evening Workout Strategy:** Focus on short, restorative movement that avoids heavy neurological fatigue or high heart rates. - **Professional Athletes:** Major League Baseball players who play games at 7:00 PM must use specific protocols to wind down, as their schedules are dictated by their jobs.
[55:02](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=3302s) Environmental Factors That Affect Our Sleep and Physiology
Dr. Galpin highlights an often-overlooked area of sleep research: environmental conditions and ambient carbon dioxide ($\text{CO}_2$) levels in the bedroom. He notes that his laboratory has a comprehensive literature review under peer review covering environmental factors and sleep quality. Ambient $\text{CO}_2$ accumulation in poorly ventilated rooms directly impacts human respiration and nervous system states.
Metabolism—whether burning carbohydrates or fats—breaks down carbon chains to yield water, ATP (energy), and carbon dioxide. Carbohydrates ($\text{C}_6\text{H}_{12}\text{O}_6$) and fats both break down into these base elements. The brain is a massive energy sink, consuming a large portion of daily ATP production. All cellular work dumps $\text{CO}_2$ into the bloodstream, where the body closely monitors it to regulate blood pH, one of the most strictly defended physiological parameters in human biology.
- **Chemical Formula of Glucose:** $\text{C}_6\text{H}_{12}\text{O}_6$ (six carbon molecules bound to six water molecules). - **End Products of Energy Metabolism:** Water, ATP, and Carbon Dioxide ($\text{CO}_2$). - **Primary Drive of Breathing:** Respiration rate is regulated primarily by the need to offload $\text{CO}_2$, not by oxygen deprivation. Holding your breath causes "air hunger" due to toxic $\text{CO}_2$ buildup, not a lack of $\text{O}_2$.
[59:09](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=3549s) Respiration, CO2 Accumulation, and Stress States
Carbon dioxide levels maintain a tight, bi-directional relationship between human psychology and physiology. Rising $\text{CO}_2$ levels signal the brain to activate the sympathetic nervous system—the fight-or-flight response. This state narrows visual focus, heightens alertness, elevates cortisol, releases glucose into the bloodstream, and increases physical strength and reactivity. Conversely, dumping $\text{CO}_2$ promotes parasympathetic drive ("rest and digest"), characterized by widened peripheral vision, lowered heart rate, muscle relaxation, and lethargy.
Neither state is inherently good or bad; optimal health requires high resilience and seamless transition between both. However, bringing high sympathetic drive into bed prevents restful sleep, just as parasympathetic lethargy ruins a morning workout. Over-breathing during sleep drops blood $\text{CO}_2$ too low (respiratory alkalosis), prompting the kidneys to compensate by excreting bicarbonate, which leads to chronic hydration and electrolyte imbalances.
- **Normal Sleeping Respiration Rate:** Approximately 10 to 11 breaths per minute. - **Elevated Respiration Rate:** Overnight breathing rates of 16 to 18+ breaths per minute signal potential sleep apnea or excessive sympathetic drive. - **Respiratory Alkalosis:** Excessive breathing dumps too much $\text{CO}_2$, shifting blood pH and often being misdiagnosed as metabolic acidosis due to renal compensation.
[01:04:34](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=3874s) Environmental CO2 Levels and Sleep Disruption
Dr. Andy Galpin walks Steven through a subtle yet critical environmental factor that destroys sleep quality: carbon dioxide build-up in closed bedrooms. When Steven describes sleeping in an average-sized room with his partner, his dog, and the door firmly closed, Dr. Galpin explains that everyone in that space is constantly exhaling CO2. As CO2 concentration rises, breathing it back in triggers the sympathetic nervous system into fight-or-flight mode, driving up resting heart rate and arousal while crushing Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and disrupting sleep stages.
While ambient CO2 levels below 900 parts per million (ppm) generally present no issues, an enclosed room with multiple inhabitants can easily spike past 1,500 to 2,500 ppm, and laboratory studies exposing subjects to up to 3,000 ppm demonstrate dramatic, statistically significant, and clinically relevant drops in both subjective and objective sleep quality measured by polysomnography (PSG). This severe accumulation leads to "building sickness" symptoms like headaches, brain fog, increased sleep latency, nighttime awakenings, and impaired next-day executive function, memory, and reaction times. To mitigate this without kicking pets out of the room, Dr. Galpin advises maximizing room ventilation, leaving interior doors or windows open when feasible, and keeping room fans or white noise machines below 35 decibels to prevent noise-induced sleep disturbances.
- **Thresholds:** CO2 under 900 ppm is optimal; levels above 1,500–2,500 ppm trigger sympathetic activation, while 3,000–3,500 ppm severely impairs sleep and cognitive performance. - **Noise limit:** Keep fans or white noise generators under 35 decibels, as louder ambient sounds compromise sleep quality. - **Ventilation protocol:** Open bedroom doors or windows for at least 30 minutes during the day to clear out trapped CO2 before sleeping.
---
[01:09:50](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=4190s) Mitigating the First-Night Phenomenon During Travel
When traveling, people frequently experience the "first-night phenomenon," where sleep quality plummets in hotel rooms or unfamiliar environments because the brain stays hyper-vigilant. Dr. Galpin stresses that the key to overcoming this is environmental patterning—artificially tricking the brain into believing it is in its home environment by standardizing sensory inputs like sound, temperature, and smell.
By introducing a distinct, portable sensory cue at home, travelers can seamlessly replicate their sanctuary on the road. For example, using a subtle lavender spray—a scent strongly associated with improved sleep quality—on the corner of the bed at home and taking that same spray on trips allows the brain to feel safe and relaxed in a new setting. Additionally, maintaining a consistent pre-bedtime routine during the 90 minutes before sleep (keeping meal times, shower times, and noise machine settings identical) helps stack the deck in favor of restorative rest.
> "If you artificially design your sleeping environment in your house any way that can be transported with you, then you can cut that problem down in large parts... your body will go, 'Oh, okay, we're at home.'"
---
[01:12:06](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=4326s) HRV, the Ketogenic Diet, and Hormonal Downstream Effects
The conversation shifts to Heart Rate Variability (HRV), a metric Steven monitors obsessively on his Whoop band and competes over with friends. Dr. Galpin validates HRV as a powerful, scientifically proven metric backed by over 50 years of research reflecting autonomic nervous system balance, cardiovascular risk, and mental health. Steven shares a story about how his HRV tanked for weeks after going on a ketogenic diet and took over a month to recover even after stopping keto, prompting Dr. Galpin to explain the physiological cascade that frequently causes this reaction.
Dr. Galpin reveals that severe carbohydrate restriction can cause insulin levels to drop excessively low. Because there is an inverse relationship between insulin and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), low insulin causes SHBG to spike. SHBG binds tightly to circulating sex hormones, dramatically reducing free testosterone and causing fatigue, poor sleep, and low HRV. By reintroducing even a modest amount of high-quality carbohydrates—such as 50 grams at night—insulin rises, SHBG drops, free testosterone increases, and serotonin production surges, rapidly restoring sleep onset, Sleep Quality, and HRV without adding body fat.
- **Biomarker Cascade:** Low Carbohydrate Intake $\rightarrow$ Low Insulin $\rightarrow$ Elevated SHBG $\rightarrow$ Decreased Free Testosterone $\rightarrow$ Compromised HRV, Fatigue & Poor Sleep. - **Serotonin Link:** Carbohydrates facilitate serotonin synthesis, directly promoting sleep onset and higher sleep quality. - **Dietary Tweak:** Shifting 50 grams of complex carbohydrates to the evening meal can fix sleep and restore HRV while keeping overall daily calories and body composition stable.
[01:18:37](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=4717s) First-Principles Stress Auditing and Balancing HRV
Steven Bartlett expresses his frustration with losing his family's heart rate variability (HRV) leaderboard, suspecting his recent stint on a keto diet severely impacted his numbers. Dr. Andy Galpin approaches the issue using a first-principles framework, viewing HRV as a balance between accumulated stressors and the body's capacity to handle or relieve stress. He explains that if a person has already eliminated obvious "level-A" bad habits, the next step is hunting for hidden, non-specific stressors—such as lingering business worries, relationship friction, or subtle environmental inputs—that keep the body's "stress bucket" constantly overflowing.
If stressors cannot be easily removed, Dr. Galpin pivots to building stress resilience and managing physiological decompression. He points out that modern humans live with an unprecedented level of constant sensory input and mental arousal. People often mistake shifting between high-stimulus activities (working, listening to podcasts, lifting weights with intense music, and watching fast-paced TV) for relaxation. Dr. Galpin emphasizes the vital need for deliberate periods throughout the day where all incoming sensory input is completely eliminated.
- Non-specific stressors continuously fill the physiological "stress bucket," suppressing HRV even when lifestyle habits seem healthy. - Managing stress requires evaluating both sides of the equation: total stress input versus stress relief and recovery capacity. - Constant high-arousal stimuli—like podcasts, heavy music during workouts, and TV—keep the sympathetic nervous system continuously active without giving the body true downtime.
---
[01:22:14](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=4934s) The Power of Zero-Input Breaks and Disconnecting
To counteract high daily arousal, Dr. Galpin strongly recommends incorporating one to three 10-minute walks per day with absolute silence—no phone, no podcasts, and no music in your ears. He personally prefers three short breaks: one in the morning to decompress and focus before diving into work, one at lunch to reset after hours of continuous effort, and one in the evening to signal to the brain and body that the workday is officially over. Steven admits that taking these quiet breaks feels like absolute "torture" and a waste of time because his brain instantly wakes up at 100% velocity with creative ideas, whereas his girlfriend easily spends an hour and a half doing morning yoga and breathwork.
Dr. Galpin reassures Steven that quiet breaks feel agonizing for him as well, requiring intentional self-discipline, but the investment pays massive dividends for physiological recovery. He emphasizes that high-performing, hyper-driven individuals must create a clear "end-of-day signal"—such as taking a walk with family or dogs—to physically prevent themselves from wandering back into the office late at night.
- **The "No-Input Walk" Protocol:** Perform 1 to 3 walks daily (or short 10-minute breaks) with zero audio or visual stimulation to lower central nervous system arousal. - **Key Decompression Times:** Morning (to set mental focus), Midday (to reset after intense morning focus), and Evening (to signal the end of work). - **Work Shut-Down Signals:** Establishing non-work evening routines (e.g., family nature walks) prevents hyper-driven individuals from defaulting back to work mode late at night.
---
[01:25:12](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=5112s) Respiratory Rate, HRV, and Physiological vs. Psychological Stress
Dr. Galpin highlights recent research showing that HRV, respiratory rate, and sleep quality can disassociate from one another despite being interconnected. He cites a study on college freshmen where every additional breath per minute in sleeping respiratory rate was associated with a 25% increase in the likelihood of experiencing moderate to high stress, even when objective HRV markers and sleep metrics showed no change. This demonstrates that respiratory rate can serve as an independent flag for underlying physiological strain.
Furthermore, Dr. Galpin notes that sleep and recovery are not identical; they form a Venn diagram with overlapping but distinct properties. Using validated mental health questionnaires alongside blood and molecular biomarkers, his team frequently uncovers clients who feel completely fine psychologically yet exhibit a deeply stressed physiology. Treating stress requires untangling these individual variables—whether it is CO2 tolerance, respiratory rate, or specific metabolic biomarkers—to figure out where the greatest recovery leverage exists.
- A study in college freshmen demonstrated that each additional breath per minute in sleeping respiratory rate led to a **25% increase** in the likelihood of experiencing moderate-to-high stress. - **Sleep vs. Recovery:** Sleeping a full eight hours does not guarantee full physiological recovery if internal metabolic or nervous system stress remains high. - **Psychological vs. Physiological Disconnect:** Individuals can feel psychologically calm and productive while their blood and autonomic biomarkers reflect high physiological stress.
---
[01:27:52](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=5272s) The Science and Benefits of Red Light Therapy
When Steven asks about two large red light panels his girlfriend bought him for Christmas, Dr. Galpin candidly admits that he originally "missed the boat" on red light therapy and held a skeptical view until the scientific literature proved him wrong. He explains that specific wavelengths of light—typically around 640 nanometers (red light) and 850 nanometers (near-infrared light)—are able to penetrate past the outer layer of skin into underlying tissues, activating beneficial cellular cascades.
These specific wavelengths have been shown to support skin health, modulate hormone balance, reduce systemic inflammation, and accelerate recovery from muscle soreness, muscle damage, and joint injuries. While Dr. Galpin does not view red light panels as a mandatory health requirement for the general public, he uses them heavily with elite athletes returning from major surgeries. For instance, his team utilized targeted red light therapy to speed up the recovery of an NFL quarterback who suffered a severe lower-body injury early in the season.
- **Key Effective Wavelengths:** Near 640 nm (red light) and 850 nm (near-infrared light), which penetrate skin to reach deeper tissue layers. - **Documented Benefits:** Enhances skin collagen, aids hormone balance, improves tissue repair, reduces delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), and aids localized injury rehabilitation. - **Clinical/Athletic Application:** Highly valuable for rapid post-surgical recovery and elite athletes with multi-million dollar contracts looking for every marginal gain.
---
[01:30:14](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=5414s) Training Modalities and Muscle Building While Staying Lean
Dr. Galpin circles back to Steven's original question about optimizing HRV, explaining that workout structure plays a huge role. Individuals who work high-stress, high-demand jobs and then perform high-intensity, high-sympathetic training end up keeping their nervous system locked in a hyper-stressed state all day, destroying their HRV. Shifting toward lower-intensity, longer-duration sessions can help restore autonomic balance over time.
Steven then asks if it is possible to build muscle mass while staying extremely lean without going through traditional "dirty bulk" and "cut" cycles. Dr. Galpin confirms it is entirely possible, though the difficulty depends on baseline body composition and training age. Because Steven already has a relatively young training age (around three years of experience) and works out without a strict, structured plan, he still has room for "newbie gains." However, Dr. Galpin cautions that putting on pure muscle without any fat is realistic only to a degree; while gaining 15 pounds of pure muscle with zero fat naturally is nearly impossible, gaining 7–8 pounds of muscle alongside just 1 pound of fat is a routine, research-backed outcome.
- **Sympathetic Overdrive:** Pairing high-stress workdays with solely high-intensity workouts keeps the sympathetic nervous system perpetually dominant, degrading HRV. - **Building Muscle While Lean (Recomposition):** Highly feasible for those with a younger training age (<3–5 years of structured lifting) or higher starting body fat. - **Realistic Expectations:** Natural lifters can reasonably expect to gain around 7 to 8 pounds of muscle for every 1 pound of fat added when following a well-designed program, rather than needing extreme bulking protocols.
[01:33:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=5580s) Gaining Muscle Mass and Staying Lean
Dr. Andy Galpin outlines the exact approach needed to gain lean muscle without accumulating unnecessary body fat. He explains that individuals must establish clear, realistic expectations about their target weight—such as aiming to gain 5 kilograms total, with perhaps 4.5 kilograms coming from muscle and only 0.5 kilograms from fat. To achieve this, the primary nutritional requirement is remaining in a slight, consistent caloric surplus of around 10% above baseline maintenance. If an individual's maintenance intake is 3,000 calories, they only need an additional 300 calories per day, or up to a 15% surplus (around 500 calories). Jumping to extreme levels like 5,000 or 6,000 calories is simply a recipe for gaining excess body fat alongside muscle.
Galpin references recent scientific literature led by researchers like Eric Helms in New Zealand, who are actively studying the precise caloric excess percentage (e.g., 5%, 10%, or 20%) that maximizes lean mass accretion while minimizing fat gain. Alongside a modest caloric surplus, protein intake must remain exceptionally high—at least 2 grams per kilogram of body weight, or even higher. When setting up these numbers, Galpin advises leaning toward a slight overestimation of calories rather than underestimating, as being 15% too high is far preferable for muscle growth than being 2% below baseline. Once protein and total calories are established, the remaining ratio between dietary carbohydrates and fats can be adjusted according to personal preference.
- **Target Caloric Surplus:** 10% to 15% above maintenance calories (e.g., an extra 300–500 calories per day on a 3,000-calorie maintenance baseline). - **Protein Target:** At least 2 grams per kilogram of body weight per day (or higher). - **Research Reference:** Studies by Dr. Eric Helms analyzing the ideal surplus ranges (5% to 20%) for optimal muscle-to-fat gain ratios.
---
[01:34:57](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=5697s) When to Eat Around Exercise and Protein Timing
Addressing host Steven Bartlett’s question regarding whether nutrient timing—specifically consuming protein immediately post-workout—is necessary, Galpin clarifies that for pure muscle hypertrophy, the exact timing of protein intake is largely overhyped. From a strict physiology standpoint, daily total protein quantity matters far more than the specific hour it is consumed. However, carbohydrate timing does begin to matter when looking at immediate athletic recovery, particularly for individuals or professional athletes who are training multiple times within a single day.
Galpin brings up research on popular dietary patterns like 16:8 intermittent fasting (an 8-hour eating window with a 16-hour fast) to emphasize that meal frequency does not dictate composition changes. Studies consistently demonstrate that intermittent fasting offers zero inherent advantage over traditional meal spacing for fat loss or muscle retention when total daily calories and protein are matched. The main obstacle with condensed eating windows or strict meal timing is practical application: consuming 2 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight alongside a caloric surplus within a brief 6-hour window can cause significant digestive fullness or conflict with a busy work schedule. Unless an individual faces personal digestive constraints or daily routine conflicts, macronutrient timing across the day can be structured purely around personal preference.
> "If you're just looking at muscle growth... timing of protein is pretty irrelevant... If you want to eat six meals a day, great. You want to eat one meal a day, won't matter for fat loss."
---
[01:36:56](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=5816s) The Optimal Training Blend for Lifelong Health
When asked what type of exercise regimen a busy professional or average person should follow to optimize both long-term health and cognitive performance, Galpin lays out the fundamental physical capabilities required to age gracefully. The absolute highest priority for long-term health is avoiding severe injury or chronic pain that interrupts consistent physical activity. Missing training for months or years due to preventable joint or back issues severely compromises long-term physical trajectory. Therefore, maintaining adequate movement quality, mobility, flexibility, and basic postural alignment forms the non-negotiable foundation of any lifelong fitness routine.
Beyond basic mobility, Galpin highlights **speed and power** as the second crucial physical attribute. While often associated only with young athletes, power and quickness are vital for older adults because they directly dictate fall prevention. As people age, slipping or tripping becomes a primary health hazard; preventing a fall requires the foot speed to quickly place a leg underneath the body's shifting center of mass, followed by the eccentric strength necessary to catch that weight without collapsing.
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[01:39:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=5940s) The Severe Risks of Falling in Older Adults
Expanding on the consequences of physical decline in later years, Galpin stresses the extreme danger associated with falls and hip fractures in individuals over the age of 60. A hip fracture often triggers a rapid downward spiral in health, leading to staggering 15-year mortality rates after the incident. Maintaining balance, knee and ankle integrity, lower-body power, and rapid reaction time are direct insurance policies against these catastrophic accidents.
Galpin notes that physical strength—particularly lower-body and leg strength—is one of the single most powerful predictors of all-cause mortality in human biology. Along with cardiorespiratory capacity, physical strength directly determines whether an individual will maintain physical independence or succumb to age-related frailty.
- **Mortality Risk:** Experiencing a hip break after age 60 carries an alarming risk of mortality over the subsequent years due to forced immobilization and systemic decline. - **Critical Movement Factors:** Foot speed, hand reaction speed, balance control, and eccentric leg strength to absorb impact and prevent collapse.
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[01:42:09](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=6129s) Understanding VO2 Max and Overall Longevity
Galpin breaks down **VO2 max** as the measure of an individual's maximum capacity to transport and utilize oxygen during incremental exercise—essentially the ultimate benchmark of cardiorespiratory fitness. When stacked directly against traditional clinical risk factors such as hypertension, coronary artery disease, high cholesterol, smoking, or type 2 diabetes, a low VO2 max and low physical strength are far more predictive of early death.
Referencing large epidemiological datasets—including landmark research from Dr. Jonathan Myers' laboratory involving over 750,000 subjects and 174,000 tracked deaths—Galpin contrasts standard hazard ratios. While chronic smoking or diabetes elevates an individual's mortality risk by approximately 30% to 40% (a hazard ratio of 1.3 to 1.4), having extremely low cardiorespiratory fitness or weak muscle strength can increase mortality risk by 300% to 500% (a 4x to 5x increase in risk).
> "It's not like smoking is 30% and VO2 max is 40%... It's like smoking is 30% and VO2 max is 300%."
- **Hazard Ratio Comparisons:** - Smoking / Diabetes: ~1.3–1.4 HR (~30–40% increased mortality risk). - Low VO2 Max / Low Strength: 4.0–5.0+ HR (300–400%+ increased mortality risk). - **Jonathan Myers Lab Dataset:** Analyzed ~750,000 individuals over long-term follow-up periods to evaluate physical fitness vs. traditional medical risk factors.
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[01:44:41](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=6281s) How Cardiorespiratory Capacity Dictates Physical Independence
VO2 max naturally declines with age at a rate of roughly 1% per year after the age of 40 or 45. Galpin details the physiological thresholds known as the **"line of independence"**—approximately 18 mL/kg/min for men and 15 to 16 mL/kg/min for women. When an individual's aerobic capacity drops below this critical threshold, basic tasks of daily living demand near-maximal physical exertion. Activities such as walking up a flight of stairs, getting up from the toilet, or getting dressed consume 12 to 14 mL/kg/min of oxygen, pushing a frail individual to their absolute maximum heart rate just to complete simple morning routines.
This extreme cardiorespiratory strain creates a cascading failure across multiple systems. Chronic physical exhaustion destroys Heart Rate Variability (HRV), disrupts sleep, elevates systemic stress, and forces social isolation. When individuals can no longer perform basic tasks independently, their sense of self-worth plummets, driving mental health decline and physical inactivity. Weak legs cause shaking and exhaustion during brief walks, leading to a sedentary lifestyle where "atrophy leads to atrophy."
To illustrate how lifelong physical activity blunts this decline, Galpin shares a study conducted in Stockholm, Sweden, where his team tested former world-champion cross-country skiers from the 1940s and 1950s who were still competing in 2010 at ages 80 to 92. While untreated aging or sedentary living drops an 80-year-old's VO2 max down to an average of 20 mL/kg/min, these lifelong master athletes retained VO2 max values in the upper 30s (35–38 mL/kg/min). Though aging inevitably reduces peak performance from the elite 80–90 mL/kg/min levels of their youth, consistent lifelong training dramatically slows the downward slope, keeping individuals well above the line of independence.
- **Line of Independence Thresholds:** - Men: ~18 mL/kg/min - Women: ~15–16 mL/kg/min - **Oxygen Demands of Daily Life:** - Getting dressed: ~12 mL/kg/min - Rising from a toilet: ~12–13 mL/kg/min - Normal walking: ~14–15 mL/kg/min - **Stockholm Master Athlete Study Data:** - Sedentary 80+ Year Olds: ~20 mL/kg/min average VO2 max. - Lifelong Champion Skiers (Ages 80–92): ~35–38 mL/kg/min average VO2 max.
---
[01:47:03](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=6423s) Building a Physical Buffer Early in Life
Galpin emphasizes why individuals in their 20s, 30s, or 40s cannot afford to wait until old age to build physical strength and cardiorespiratory fitness. Although 80-year-olds retain surprisingly high muscle trainability and can build hypertrophy nearly as effectively as 20-year-olds, starting from a low baseline leaves zero safety margin. A 40-year-old starting with a mediocre VO2 max of 35 mL/kg/min will naturally cross below the line of independence by age 60 or 65 due to standard age-related decline.
Building a massive physiological reservoir early in life provides a buffer against unexpected life setbacks. Galpin notes that real-world disruptions—such as emergency hip surgeries, six weeks of forced bed rest, career burnout, or becoming a full-time caregiver for an aging parent—can cause rapid physical deconditioning. Recalling a discussion with professional golfer Jon Rahm, Galpin stresses the overarching philosophy: individuals must aggressively control the physical factors within their control today to prepare for the unavoidable disruptions of tomorrow.
> "Atrophy leads to atrophy... Loss of muscle makes us want to do less things, which makes it worse and worse, and we just spiral down. Not ever getting into that cycle is critically important."
Here is a detailed, faithful walkthrough of the transcript segment.
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[01:48:32](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=6512s) Building Physical Buffers Against Life’s Uncontrollable Events
Andy Galpin references a mindset from golf: because you cannot control the weather or what your opponents are doing, you must master the things you can physically control. Applied to human health, Galpin urges people to maximize their physical capacity and fitness whenever they have the opportunity. Building a high level of physical buffer now protects you when life inevitably throws curveballs—such as getting injured, work taking over, or gym closures. Running without a buffer leaves individuals at high risk of losing their health and functional independence.
Steven Bartlett shares a personal story from Christmas involving an elderly relative who could no longer walk up the stairs without getting severely out of breath. The family sat around discussing whether this physical decline was reversible, but the relative had surrendered to a sense of inevitability, blaming age or unchangeable factors. Bartlett recalls desperately searching YouTube for videos during the holiday to prove that starting on an exercise bike could reverse the downward spiral.
- **Golf Mindset Parallel:** Focus intensely on controllable factors (fitness, habit) to build a buffer against uncontrollable external disruptions (injury, life events). - **Physical Buffer Risk:** Operating with zero physical buffer leaves you vulnerable to total loss of mobility when unexpected stressors hit. - **Family Christmas Anecdote:** An elderly relative believed their loss of breath from climbing stairs was permanent, highlighting a common psychological surrender to aging.
[01:50:01](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=6601s) Reversibility of Aging, Muscle Growth in 80-Year-Olds, and Tissue Plasticity
Dr. Galpin reassures Bartlett that the scientific evidence heavily supports his view: physical decline from inactivity is largely reversible. Extensive training studies conducted on untrained 70- and 80-plus-year-olds demonstrate huge improvements in both muscle strength and size. Galpin cites a recent study showing over a 15% increase in muscle size in non-active individuals aged 80 and older following strength training. The ultimate hurdle is not biological capability, but convincing older adults that improvement is actually possible, as many mistakenly believe decline after 60 is inevitable.
Beyond muscle strength, cardiorespiratory health can be preserved well into late adulthood. While $VO_2\text{ max}$ typically begins to decline around age 45 to 50, individuals who train consistently can maintain their $VO_2\text{ max}$ at youth-like levels straight into their 60s. Galpin's general baseline target for 50-year-olds is a $VO_2\text{ max}$ of at least $50\text{ mL/kg/min}$. Human tissue retains extraordinarily high plasticity throughout life, meaning the body never stops adapting positively to exercise stress.
> "Your ability to change really never stops in response to exercise. Plasticity in tissue is extraordinarily high and it responds very well to training."
- **80+ Strength Study:** Untrained 80-year-olds achieved >15% increases in muscle size from structured strength training. - **$VO_2\text{ Max}$ Baseline Target:** A benchmark target is maintaining a $VO_2\text{ max}$ of at least $50\text{ mL/kg/min}$ at age 50 ("50 at 50"). - **Preserving $VO_2\text{ Max}$:** Consistent aerobic training prevents the typical decline seen between ages 45 and 60.
[01:52:02](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=6722s) Practical Protocols for Improving $VO_2\text{ Max}$
When Bartlett asks how to specifically improve $VO_2\text{ max}$, Galpin breaks it down into simple, high-level principles rather than rigid, overly complex protocols. Improving $VO_2\text{ max}$ requires challenging the heart to pump consistently through two primary training modalities: 1. **Lower-Intensity, Longer Duration:** Sustained elevated heart rate for 20 to 60 minutes. Modality does not matter—running, swimming, cycling, sled pushes, circuits, or group classes all work well. 2. **Higher-Intensity, Shorter Duration:** Pushing the heart rate close to maximum for short bursts, such as doing 30 seconds of all-out effort followed by 30 seconds of rest for 4 to 6 rounds.
Galpin emphasizes that people get far too caught up in precise heart rate zones or exact rep schemes. At the core of all physiological adaptation is the **SAID Principle** (*Specific Adaptation to Imposed Demands*). If you consistently challenge your cardiovascular system, it will adapt and $VO_2\text{ max}$ will rise.
- **SAID Principle:** Specific Adaptation to Imposed Demands—the fundamental scientific law stating that physiological systems adapt directly to the stress placed upon them. - **Low-Intensity Baseline:** 20–60 minutes of continuous movement that keeps the heart rate moderately elevated. - **High-Intensity Interval Example:** 30 seconds max effort / 30 seconds rest for 4–6 total rounds.
[01:54:21](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=6861s) Balancing Variation and Specificity to Build Muscle Mass
Bartlett admits that despite going to the gym daily, he feels his muscles are not growing because he repeats the exact same routine. Galpin explains that workout programming requires balancing two opposing forces: **Specificity** and **Variation**. Hyper-specificity (doing the exact same workout every time) creates strong targeted adaptation but drastically increases the risk of overuse injuries due to repetitive joint loading. Conversely, changing workouts randomly every day minimizes injury risk but slows muscle growth due to a lack of repeated stimulus.
To drive progressive overload without causing injury, Galpin suggests modifying one or two variables by no more than **10% week-to-week**: * Increasing weight/load * Increasing reps per set * Increasing number of sets * Adding exercises * Increasing weekly frequency * Decreasing rest intervals between sets
#### Galpin’s "50-Workout System" Instead of forcing workouts into rigid 7-day calendar weeks ("leg day on Monday"), Galpin recommends building a list of 50 structured workouts to complete in sequential order over roughly 100 days. This removes calendar stress while guaranteeing long-term progression.
``` Example: 50-Workout Block over ~100 Days [Workout 01] ➔ [Workout 02] ➔ (Travel/Rest) ➔ [Workout 03] ➔ [Workout 04]... ```
- **10% Overload Rule:** Increase total training volume or intensity by no more than 10% per week to avoid injury. - **Program Duration:** Maintain a consistent training template for 6 to 8 weeks before changing movement patterns. - **Macro-Cycle Scheduling:** Completing a 50-workout plan sequentially accommodates real-life travel and busy schedules far better than rigid weekly splits.
[01:58:31](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=7111s) Demystifying Creatine: Science, Safety, and Unexpected Benefits
Bartlett recounts a debate he had with his girlfriend during a trip to Cape Town, South Africa. After buying creatine, his girlfriend picked up the tub and claimed "creatine is not for women," assuming it was strictly a supplement for bodybuilders looking to get "stacked." After Googling its benefits, she began taking it herself. Galpin points out that this misconception stems from the early 2000s BALCO baseball steroid scandals, where creatine was erroneously lumped in with performance-enhancing drugs like steroids used by players such as Mark McGwire and Barry Bonds.
Galpin recommends **examine.com** as an unbiased, evidence-based resource to check supplement efficacy and magnitude of effect. Creatine is one of the most thoroughly researched supplements in existence, with hundreds of studies spanning men, women, children, the elderly, and even astronauts on bed-rest studies.
#### Key Efficacy & Safety Highlights * **Mechanism & Energy Production:** Unlike vitamins, minerals, or hormones, creatine acts directly as a primary fuel source. In cellular metabolism, the phosphagen system breaks down creatine phosphate to yield ATP on a 1:1 stoichiometric ratio. It provides the fastest immediate energy output, though at a lower total capacity than carbohydrates or fat. * **Performance Effect Size:** Delivers an average **3% to 12% improvement** in muscle strength and size. * **Exceptional Safety Profile:** Creatine is not a hormone or mineral, meaning it does not cause hormonal imbalances or oxidative stress. * **Bone Health in Women:** Galpin highlights a 2-year study by Dr. Darren Candow where post-menopausal women took **20 grams per day** (4x the typical 5-gram dose) with zero adverse effects on kidney function, showing positive potential for preserving bone mineral density in critical areas like the femur. * **Brain & Cognitive Function:** Because astrocytes in the central nervous system thrive on creatine as a fast fuel source, research shows significant benefits for brain health, recovery from traumatic brain injury (TBI), and potential mood enhancement.
- **Recommended Resource:** *examine.com* — unbiased research database for supplement protocols and efficacy. - **Stoichiometry of Creatine:** Breaks down 1 phosphocreatine molecule to rapidly yield 1 molecule of ATP. - **Darren Candow Bone Study:** Post-menopausal women taking 20g/day of creatine for 2 years experienced no adverse kidney or health effects and saw improvements in femur bone density markers. - **Brain Fuel:** Astrocytes in the central nervous system utilize creatine heavily for rapid ATP resynthesis, supporting cognitive function and traumatic brain injury recovery.
[02:03:15](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=7395s) Broadening the Approach to Fat Loss and Muscle Preservation
Dr. Andy Galpin addresses popular misconceptions surrounding fat loss, particularly the idea that anaerobic exercise or targeted running is the magic bullet for burning belly fat. Rather than relying on oversimplified methods, Galpin emphasizes that fat loss must be viewed through a comprehensive lens: the true goal is losing fat while actively preserving lean muscle mass, ensuring the weight stays off long-term. He notes that trial-and-error approach to dieting often leads to yo-yo dieting—a topic he co-authored a highly cited review paper on alongside Jackson.
Across extensive meta-analyses, the single greatest predictor of long-term weight loss success is adherence to both a workout and nutrition program. Before debating complex exercise modalities or rushing into advanced genetic testing, individuals need a sustainable framework that makes them feel abundant rather than restricted. Galpin stresses that diets fail when they create a sense of psychological scarcity. Whether a person prefers a high-carb or high-fat approach, the primary nutrition goal is maintaining an adequate protein intake while managing calories in a way that preserves daily energy and happiness.
* Adherence is the number one predictor of long-term fat loss and weight maintenance across meta-analyses and review articles. * Genetic testing for precision nutrition often lacks cross-ethnic validation; variants predicting carbohydrate or fat metabolism in European Caucasian populations frequently drop to zero predictive variance in West or East African populations. * To preserve muscle mass during a hypocaloric diet, protein intake must remain adequate, paired with strength training at least once per week.
[02:11:08](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=7868s) Personalizing Workouts and the Order of Exercise
When customizing an exercise plan, Galpin tailors variables around an individual's specific pain points and preferences. If a person dislikes running, weight loss can be accomplished through daily walking and nutritional adjustments; if someone loves training but struggles with nutrition, high-intensity or low-intensity exercise can play a larger role. For an optimal weekly template, Galpin suggests balancing anaerobic strength work with cardiovascular training. For a three-day weekly routine, his go-to structure includes one long-duration steady-state session (such as a hike, swim, or run) and two days combining strength/hypertrophy lifting followed by a high-heart-rate finisher like an AirAssault bike, circuit, or sprints.
Steven Bartlett asks why strength training should precede endurance work when performed in the same session. Galpin explains that lifting weights first ensures strength performance is not compromised; in fact, lifting first can sometimes enhance subsequent endurance performance. Conversely, starting with endurance work causes fatigue, leading to diminished force production and degraded performance during strength training.
> "If you do strength training before endurance work, your strength training will not compromise your endurance—in fact, sometimes it exacerbates it. If you do your endurance first, you're going to be more fatigued and you're going to lose strength."
[02:12:36](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=7956s) The Future of Precision Health and the Human Digital Twin
Looking toward the future of human health, Galpin discusses how emerging technologies will make precision exercise and precision nutrition accessible beyond elite performers. He highlights an ongoing project creating a "Human Digital Twin" (HDT)—a collaborative effort drawing data from several of his companies, including absolute REST (sleep tracking), Vitality Blueprint (molecular and blood biomarkers), Springbok, and Axio Force. By placing four sensors in footwear, Axio Force tracks subtle gait alterations, which research suggests may detect early neurological shifts (such as Parkinson's disease development) before physical symptoms manifest.
By aggregating molecular, biomechanical, and sleep data into a digital twin, algorithms can run endless simulations combining nutrition, training, supplementation, daytime light exposure, and hydration. This allows clinicians to predict an individual's optimal response without forcing patients through months of guesswork. While acknowledging that these predictive models are in their early testing phases with initial cohorts, Galpin notes that digital twins are already being deployed in cardiology and nephrology, with pulmonary models close behind.
* Axio Force shoe sensors analyze gait metrics to potentially identify early signs of Parkinson's disease and neurological disorders prior to clinical symptom onset. * Digital twin models are already being utilized for heart and kidney health, with lung and full-body physiology simulations currently in development. * The Human Digital Twin project involves collaboration with experts like Cody Burkhart, who leads human performance research at NASA.
[02:16:16](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=8176s) The Comfort Crisis, NASA Research, and the Ethics of Health Tech
Reflecting on human history, Galpin and Bartlett discuss how humanity spent thousands of years striving to eliminate environmental stressors through shelter, community, and agriculture. However, removing all physical stress has led to a modern health crisis—a theme echoed in Michael Easter's book *The Comfort Crisis*. Drawing on NASA research regarding long-term space travel and Mars missions, Galpin points out that when physical stressors like gravity are completely removed, human physiology degrades rapidly, leaving returning astronauts temporarily unable to walk.
This physiological decline illustrates the danger of over-eliminating necessary physical friction. As health technology advances toward hyper-personalized guidance, society faces complex ethical and philosophical questions that have not yet been fully evaluated. Much like short-term incentives in artificial intelligence, the drive to eliminate all discomfort and guess-work raises fundamental questions about the human experience. As Galpin quips regarding our historic quest to eliminate stress: "We went after that entire idea of minimizing as many stressors as we possibly could and—uh oh, it worked. Oops. Now we have to go back and do this weird..."
Here is a detailed, faithful walkthrough covering the final section of the conversation:
[02:18:48](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=8328s) Intentionally Directing Stress and Navigating AI in Health
Dr. Andy Galpin emphasizes the critical need to be deliberate and judicious when re-engineering stress into our daily lives. He explains that if you do not actively direct stress, something else will direct it for you, but adaptation is coming regardless. Individuals must make a conscious choice to steer their own progress rather than turning a blind eye and ending up somewhere unintended. Awareness of this dynamic is key, which is why consciousness is a core focus of his work—giving people the ability to make informed decisions about their own health trajectory.
When discussing how technology and AI fit into human health, Galpin cautions that while technology will continue to advance rapidly, history shows humans are generally not great at making the right choices immediately. He breaks down the four-step framework needed for true health and performance success:
1. **Assessment:** Gathering comprehensive baseline data. 2. **Qualification (The "Polaris" Problem):** Evaluating the data against meaningful standards. Galpin notes that medicine knows what extreme disease looks like (such as rickets, obesity, or type 2 diabetes), but lacks clear reference databases for what constitutes "good" or "great" health. For instance, there are no standardized benchmarks for what vertical jump height a 40-year-old should achieve to be considered optimally healthy, especially across different ethnic backgrounds where baseline chemistry markers naturally vary. 3. **Intervention:** Determining the specific training, nutrition, or behavioral protocols required to move a marker from where it is to where it should be. 4. **Human Guidance & Connection:** Implementing the plan with a qualified expert.
- Galpin predicts that personal coaches, physical therapists, athletic trainers, and nurses will become *more* valuable—not less—in the age of AI, because people naturally desire human companionship and expertise when executing complex health interventions. - He uses the example of an NFL quarterback who tears an ACL: regardless of what an algorithm recommends, the athlete will gladly pay whatever it takes to work in person with a coach who has successfully guided 15 starting quarterbacks through the exact same recovery. - Though online coaching saw a massive initial boom, Galpin observes the pendulum already swinging back toward a premium on in-person trainers and experts.
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[02:24:21](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=8661s) The Last Guest Question: Honoring Unsung Support
Following the show's closing tradition, host Steven Bartlett asks Galpin a question left by the previous guest: *"Who on your team or in your life can you not function without, who rarely ever gets the credit they truly deserve?"*
Galpin responds without hesitation that the answer is undeniably his wife, Natasha. He describes her as fundamental to every success he has achieved over the years, both tactically and emotionally. Galpin candidly shares that he isn't particularly fond of talking to people or opening up when frustrating or unpleasant things happen, preferring to compartmentalize. However, Natasha is the person he confides in, possessing a unique knack for helping him navigate exactly what he needs to address and what he can let go.
---
[02:26:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=8760s) Closing Gratitude and Sponsor Note
Bartlett expresses deep admiration for Galpin, noting that this was likely one of the longest interviews in the podcast's history, yet he could have continued talking for hours. Bartlett praises Galpin's innate passion, rigorous presentation of evidence, and commitment to providing vital nuance without making listeners feel disempowered. He jokes that they should "bottle Galpin up in a jar and use AI to keep him alive forever" because of his immense contribution to public health education. Galpin humbly accepts the praise, thanking Bartlett for the honor of being on the show.
The episode concludes with Bartlett highlighting sponsor ZOE, noting his investment in the company and their latest scientific breakthrough: expanding their advanced gut health test from analyzing 30 bacteria types to 100 distinct types.
## Notable quotes > [04:54](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=294s) There's a lot of things that people will go through in life that are out of their control. To me, this represents stuff that will be within your control. And so I give you the chance to make changes that you can control—your strength and your health—at least you got that. — Andy Galpin
> [48:32](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=2912s) You can't time travel. — Steven Lockley
> [01:09:50](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=4190s) If you artificially design your sleeping environment in your house any way that can be transported with you, then you can cut that problem down in large parts... your body will go, 'Oh, okay, we're at home.' — Dr. Andy Galpin
> [01:33:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=5580s) If you're just looking at muscle growth... timing of protein is pretty irrelevant... If you want to eat six meals a day, great. You want to eat one meal a day, won't matter for fat loss. — Dr. Andy Galpin
> [01:42:09](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=6129s) It's not like smoking is 30% and VO2 max is 40%... It's like smoking is 30% and VO2 max is 300%. — Dr. Andy Galpin
> [01:47:03](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=6423s) Atrophy leads to atrophy... Loss of muscle makes us want to do less things, which makes it worse and worse, and we just spiral down. Not ever getting into that cycle is critically important. — Dr. Andy Galpin
> [01:50:01](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=6601s) Your ability to change really never stops in response to exercise. Plasticity in tissue is extraordinarily high and it responds very well to training. — Dr. Andy Galpin
> [02:11:08](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=7868s) If you do strength training before endurance work, your strength training will not compromise your endurance—in fact, sometimes it exacerbates it. If you do your endurance first, you're going to be more fatigued and you're going to lose strength. — Dr. Andy Galpin
> [02:16:16](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=8176s) We went after that entire idea of minimizing as many stressors as we possibly could and—uh oh, it worked. Oops. Now we have to go back and do this weird... — Dr. Andy Galpin
> [02:24:21](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80&t=8661s) Who on your team or in your life can you not function without, who rarely ever gets the credit they truly deserve? — Steven Bartlett
## Mentioned Andy Galpin, Steven Bartlett, Tommy Wood, Dan Garner, Cheri Mah, Steven Lockley, Eric Helms, Jonathan Myers, Jon Rahm, Natasha Galpin, Darren Candow, Jackson, Michael Easter, Cody Burkhart, Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds, California State University, Fullerton, Center for Sport Performance, Biochemistry and Molecular Exercise Physiology Laboratory, Rapid Health and Performance, Absolute Rest, University of Washington, Stanford University, Harvard University, UK Biobank, NHANES, The Diary Of A CEO, WHOOP, ZOE, Gold Tree Studios, BALCO, examine.com, The Comfort Crisis, Human Digital Twin, Vitality Blueprint, Springbok, Axio Force, NASA, NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB
[Source](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ78Hpwrt80)