Wits & Weights | Smart Science to Build Muscle and Lose Fat

Quick Wits: Why Selfish is Selfless with Your Health and Fitness

Philip Pape, Nutrition Coach & Physique Engineer

Have you ever felt guilty for focusing so much on your own fitness goals? Or could dedicating time to your fitness journey be the ultimate act of altruism?

Today we'll dissect the seemingly selfish act of prioritizing personal health and reveal how it's actually a cornerstone of generosity.

This episode shatters the guilt often associated with a rigorous health regimen and reframes your workouts and meal prep as acts of love—both for yourself and for the people in your life. By embracing fitness, you're not just sculpting a better you; you're ensuring you can play a supportive role in others' lives for years to come.

Let's get real about the ripple effect of personal well-being. Learn how being physically and mentally fit equips us to be more present, energized, and focused for our loved ones. It's the safety demonstration principle brought to life; you've got to secure your own health before you can fully assist those around you.

And it's not just about now—it's about fostering a future where you're less of a burden and more of a boon to society. Tune in and transform your perspective: caring for yourself is the most selfless gift you can offer to the world. Stay strong, and remember—looking after number one benefits everyone.

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“Quick Wits” are short, 3-5 minute episodes between full episodes to give you an actionable strategy or hit of motivation.

These mini-episodes give you practical advice on fitness, training, and mindset based on my everyday experience with clients that you can implement right away.

If you enjoy these bonus episodes or have feedback on how to make them better, just send me a message on IG @witsandweights or hit me up in the free Wits & Weights Facebook community.

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Philip Pape:

Have you ever felt guilty for focusing so much on your own fitness goals? Let's turn that notion on its head and explore why being selfish about your health is actually the most self-less thing you can do. Welcome to the Wits and Weights podcast. I'm your host, phillip Pape, and this twice a week podcast is dedicated to helping you achieve physical self-mastery by getting stronger, optimizing your nutrition and upgrading your body composition. We'll uncover science-backed strategies for movement, metabolism, muscle and mindset, with a skeptical eye on the fitness industry, so you can look and feel your absolute best. Let's dive right in. Welcome to another Quick Wits, where we always challenge conventional thinking about fitness and health. In this episode, we are tackling maybe a provocative idea, and that is why being selfish with your health and fitness is actually self-less.

Philip Pape:

The word selfish has an interesting history for me, because I come from the school of rational self-interest and objectivism and thinking of the world, as everyone is making decisions for their own self-interest, but part of that self-interest is doing things to others that you would have them do to you. There's a little bit of the golden rule in there as well. The word selfish may rub you the wrong way. It may not, it may not be your, but what I mean by that is simply putting yourself first. And here's the thing. Prioritizing your health first might seem self-centered or selfish, but it's the foundation for everything else in your life. We talked about that before, how physical fitness enables everything else. When you are physically and mentally fit, you're more energized, more focused, more present for your loved ones and I mean physically present, including into older age. Your health becomes a catalyst for positive change, not just for you, but for those around you. So it is an impact multiplier and therefore, is it really selfish? It's like the safety instructions on a plane You're told to put your own oxygen mask first before you help your children or help others.

Philip Pape:

Simply taking care of your health first enables you to be there for others in a more meaningful way. Also, think about the long term being selfish about your fitness. Now you're setting yourself up for a healthier future, reducing the likelihood of becoming a burden to others because of health related issues and to society and every other way that that can be a burden. So the next time you are feeling a little guilty because you're spending time at the gym or you're preparing your healthy meals on the weekend, remember this isn't just for you, it's for a healthier, happier life that positively impacts everyone around you. That is why selfish is selfless when it comes to your health and fitness.

Philip Pape:

Until next time, take care of yourself. It's the most selfless thing you can do. Thank you for tuning in to another episode of Wits and Weights. If you found value in today's episode and know someone else who's looking to level up their wits or weights, please take a moment to share this episode with them, and make sure to hit the follow button in your podcast platform right now to catch the next episode. Until then, stay strong.

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