Introduction

According to a 2019 Cleveland Clinic survey, 44% of people get health, fitness and diet advice from social media. In 2026 that number is probably in the 50-55% range considering the COVID year. COVID drove most people out of gyms for a period of time, leaving people to the internet & social media for health/fitness advice. Out of the people that get health & fitness advice online, almost all of them have probably seen or come across Hybrid Athletes. For the rest of you who haven't, hybrid athletes are people who workout to maximize numerous extremes in fitness. Their goals might be to run a sub 3 hour marathon and deadlift 450lbs at the same time. That is the ethos of hybrid athletes encapsulated right there. Another example might be running a 10K and competing in a body building competition in the same 3 month period. They aren't trying to maximize all buckets of health as most people should, they take all those buckets to the extreme.

From my perspective, right around COVID is when these people and channels got popular or blew up. I don't know if there is any reason behind it or just a coincidence. My YouTube feed was full of workout videos and content all throughout COVID, then I started to see more and more hybrid athlete content.

A typical hybrid video usually presents a week in the life of an athlete. Six days a week wasn't uncommon, neither was two-a-day workouts as well. In 99% of content with hybrid athletes, the main character was ripped, shredded, jacked. Pick your word for someone that is sub 10% body fat. Never were these people unfit, lacking health or anything in between. They portray the ideal physique for men and women, making it appear to be the path towards looking and feeling your best.

The Worshipping of False Gods

People may be thinking this doesn't sound all that bad. Content that emphasizes men and women that are of the highest fitness level  in multiple categories and they aesthetically look good too. Most people won't realize they are watching or getting advice from people that worship the God of fitness. They have built up these personas, ego's, identities that feed off of the physical fitness challenge. Often going where average people rarely go, like training for body building and power lifting competitions at the same time.

Why are these people bad influencers or examples for health and fitness? First, they put and serve physical competition at the top of the hierarchy. A majority of their chosen sacrifices are for physical and/or aesthetic feats. I'm not saying don't set physical goals to aim for. But when your life becomes about these extreme physical feats, your priorities have been mixed up. If you were to adopt this method of health & fitness, serious questions need to be raised.

How much time are you pulling away from your family & friends?

Are you really healthier chasing these goals?

Is your own home in order?

Do you see your kids enough?

Is your sleep hygiene where it needs to be?

Do you need to pursue and spend more time on continuing education for work?

Are you behind on any bills?

Are your finances in the right place to be spending 6-10 hours a week on workouts?

What is your relationship to God? Are you living the life he wants you to?

Those are a few questions to get your mind turning and thinking about the right priorities and if ignoring these other problems in search of this false god is worth it.

What's Realistic for you and the masses

For most people, 2-3 hours a week of structured exercise is all that you need. This doesn't count all the extra activity you can put into your daily habits like parking further away, choosing to take the stares, walking 15 minutes after meals. 2-3 hours a week of focused, intentional exercise whether it be strength training or cardio will make most people healthy and fit. This will give you ample time to improve your cardio respiratory fitness, strength, body composition, etc. Any more dedicated time alone spent working out and you become like the hybrid athletes, worshipping the gods of exercise.

Stop, reflect and ask yourself the tough questions. Are you listening to the right people for health & fitness advice? If not, pick people that don't obsess and worship the wrong idols in life.