Given current world events, it’s been hard not to become introspective or drift into deeper thoughts. No matter your view, I’m not here to judge. It’s tough not to notice—and be disappointed by—the loud, toxic rhetoric and the endless stream of opinions in every direction.
THE FITNESS ZEITGEIST
I’ve noticed some parallels in health and fitness circles. People argue a lot. The vibe isn’t as grim as politics, but biases exist, and people cling to what they like and think, often resisting the bigger picture or the middle ground.
Zeitgeist isn’t as scary as it sounds. It simply means the spirit of the times—the dominant ideas and beliefs that shape a society at a given moment.
In The God Delusion, Richard Dawkins discusses morality and how societies evolve. He notes that slavery, once accepted, was abolished in civilized countries in the 19th century, and women’s suffrage arrived later (in the United States in the 1920s). Today, those changes would seem absurd in many places. The point is that societies change and evolve over time. (Dawkins’ background as a Darwinian biologist underpins that view.)
And yes, I’m still baffled by how skinny jeans have managed to endure.
The health/fitness world mirrors this Zeitgeist. In the early 20th century, men like Eugene Sandow lifted whatever they could get their hands on—dumbbells, rocks, maybe even odd items—while society viewed weightlifting as odd or unsophisticated. By the 1960s–80s, bodybuilding’s golden era had posters of Arnold, Zane, and Nubret on walls everywhere. Before the 1970s, running was hardly a thing unless you were training for something extreme. Then Jim Fixx’s The Complete Book of Running (1977) popularized jogging for heart health, and the trend exploded. Today, millions use running or other forms of cardio as a major part of fitness culture.
Which other components of health and fitness have followed the same path? Here are a few.
1) CrossFit
CrossFit began as an edgy, “hard-core” phenomenon with extreme workouts and internet bragging rights. It’s no longer just a fad. It has become a fitness powerhouse and a cultural force. It’s still part of today’s fitness landscape, even if it isn’t as dominant as it once was. CrossFit has genuinely inspired people to train hard and lift a barbell. There are valid criticisms and some gyms with safety issues, but those are relatively rare, and the sport has earned respect in fitness culture. Some still joke that it “invented” lifting, but that’s more humorous than factual.
2) Training for life
Let’s stop assuming that when a woman picks up a barbell or lifts something heavier than a grocery bag she’s training for a specific event. My wife is often asked what she’s training for, and her universal reply is simple: “Life.” Women go to the gym to be able to live better—after work, on busy days, for everyday tasks. It’s not always about a competition or a show; it’s about being functional and fit for life.
3) Post-workout window
I used to buy into the idea of an anabolic window—that you had to eat within 30–60 minutes after training or your gains wouldn’t count. It turned out to be overstated. What matters more is total daily calories and overall consistency, not a strict post-workout deadline.
4) Cardio and gains
There was a long period when cardio seemed to threaten strength gains. That view has shifted. Hybrid training—combining strength and endurance—has gained traction. The idea is to train efficiently: do what’s truly important, avoid excess junk miles, and focus on quality work. Cardio brings clear benefits for heart health and metabolic function, and when programmed well, it can improve work capacity and even enhance performance in the weight room.
The End
Finding the middle ground and evolving with new information is the mindset of a true zeitgeist. You could be debating anything—from global politics to pop culture—yet the core idea remains: adapt as you learn.
Preferably, a shake with a 2:1 carb-to-protein ratio, using good grass-fed protein powder and clean water.
