Mr. Skeptical rolls his eyes and adds, “So we are going to talk philosophy today? The philosophy of a caveman.”
I act like I didn’t hear his annoying remark. “Philosophy is vital because it drives human behavior. And it is one of the main reasons I call my online fitness training company Occam’s Razor Fitness.”
Subconscious Fat at 30,000 Feet
Every man and woman over 40 lives by a philosophy — whether he admits it or not.
It’s not written down, but it dictates everything from what you eat to how you train to how you recover. And of course, the philosophy should change over time.
Mr. Skeptical frowns. “But I thought philosophy is supposed to stand the test of time.”
“When discussing moral philosophy, yes, usually, but I’m discussing changing philosophies as we age.”
“Give me an example.”
“As a man grows, he may enjoy eating lots of ‘healthy carbs' like rice, salad, and vegetables. He may think that is good enough because it’s better than junk food, so you assume you're eating well. But rice, salad, and veggies are really ‘Filler Food.’”
Mr. Skeptical puts his arms up in protest. “And a lot of people like the taste of rice, salad, and vegetables.”
“Philosophy also determines protein intake. Many men over 40 still eat like they did at 25 — small portions of protein, plenty of “filler foods” like rice, corn, or salad. But lean tissue declines roughly 1% per year after 40 (Journal of Gerontology, 2013). To maintain muscle and testosterone, you need more protein, not less — often 1 gram per pound of lean mass.”
Subconscious Fat at 10,000 Feet
Philosophy sits upstream of behavior.
And when it comes to health after 40, the wrong philosophy can quietly sabotage progress.
Take the “plants are good, meat is bad” narrative. It sounds virtuous — but biologically, plants don’t want to be eaten. They defend themselves with lectins, oxalates, and phytates — compounds that can interfere with digestion and mineral absorption (see: Mole et al., Journal of Chemical Ecology, 1995).
A carnivore or ketogenic approach, on the other hand, removes many of those plant defense compounds, calms gut inflammation, stabilizes blood glucose, and often reignites energy and libido in men who thought fatigue was just part of aging.
Mr. Skeptical folds his arms again. “So, you’re saying eat steak and never touch a vegetable again?”
“Not dogma — philosophy. The point isn’t “never eat plants,” it’s “question the assumption that plants are automatically good.” Philosophy is the filter that decides what goes on your fork.”
Subconscious Fat at Eye-Level
Another example: the “more sets, more volume” belief.
After 40, your joints and nervous system don’t recover like they used to. The philosophy of one hard set to complete muscular failure — popularized by Arthur Jones and supported by studies in Sports Medicine (Carpinelli, 2002) — shows that intensity, not volume, drives adaptation.
Men who embrace that mindset build more with less, because they stop flirting with fatigue and start courting failure.
Philosophy isn’t just abstract — it’s biochemical.
If your mindset says, “I need to do an hour of cardio or I didn’t work out,” your nervous system stays in chronic fight-or-flight. Cortisol stays elevated, recovery plummets, and fat storage increases.
If instead your philosophy says, “I’ll go to controlled muscular failure using resistance bands,” your heart rate still spikes, your VO₂ improves, and your joints stay intact. You’ve essentially blended strength and cardio into a single metabolic event — without punishing your body. This is what I recommend to all my clients when they join Occam’s Razor Fitness program.
Mr. Skeptical puckers his lips. “So, training to muscle failure is the new treadmill?
“Exactly. You’re training efficiency, not endurance. The goal isn’t to survive exercise; it’s to send a signal your body actually listens to.”
Practical Suggestions and Conclusions
Audit your philosophy. Write down what you believe about food, training, and recovery. Where did those beliefs come from? Parents? Doctors? 1980s fitness magazines?
Question “plant-based = healthy.” Many vegetables are fine — but rotate, cook, and notice how your body responds. If energy or digestion improves when you reduce plant matter, that’s feedback, not a fad.
Lift to muscle failure per exercise. Make that one set count. Focus, control, and push until the muscle genuinely fails. That’s your signal for growth. However, not all exercises should be done to failure. Ask for guidance from me or another trainer when approaching muscle failure feels risky.
Treat resistance as cardio. Use bands, slow eccentrics. You’ll spike your heart rate while preserving joints.
Prioritize protein. Eat it first, and don’t let filler foods crowd your plate.
Philosophy is invisible, but its results aren’t.
Change what you believe about movement and food, and the metabolism follows — not out of willpower, but out of alignment.
Mr. Skeptical adds, “So it’s not just what I do, it’s what I believe about what I do.”
“Exactly. The body is philosophy made flesh.”
Be aware.
Other links related to this post:
Can Cardio Workouts Make You Gain Weight
Alternatives To Heavy Weight Lifting
PS Links on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X, and Notes. Full disclosure: ChatGPT was used to research and enhance this post.