Wellness Propaganda I'm Not Falling For
On the feud between Pilates and Strength Training, the doctrine of cheat days and why biohacking isn't just for billionaire tech bros.
Wellness can be a deeply judgmental place.
Conflicting advice. Polarized opinions. And now, TikTok trends repackaged as health advice.
Social media can be a place of discovery and education if you follow credentialed experts but overall, it’s designed for serving up drama, not nuance.
Health isn’t binary (like Instagram Reels wants it to be) — but it is bio-individual. It starts with the consistent everyday habits that quietly build our foundation. Think of each good choice like a small 401(k) deposit that compounds over time to support your future resilience.
I practice what I preach, and recently shared my Sunday routine with the longevity team at Estee Lauder1. It’s now my favorite day of the week filled with podcasts on the way to the farmers market, and light decluttering to create calm from the chaos.
I may loathe the meme, but I’ll still be a sport and play…here are three pieces of wellness propaganda I’m not falling for and what I believe instead.
1/ Pilates vs Strength Training
Let’s stop pretending that we need to pick a side. These two modalities serve completely different functions — and they are both essential.
Pilates targets slow-twitch muscle fibers (Type I). These are endurance-focused stabilizing muscles like your core, pelvic floor and postural system to improve alignment, mobility and coordination.
Strength training activates fast twitch muscle fibers (Type II). These are built for power and force. Lifting causes muscle growth, increases bone density and boosts metabolic function.
They are not interchangeable, they are complementary.
2/ “No Cheat Days”
As a health optimization coach, my personal approach is to remove morality from food. Let’s stop policing “indulgence,” and rewarding “restriction.” You don’t cheat on broccoli with donuts. You’re not '“good” or “bad” based on what you eat.
Instead know how a food makes you feel. Understand what it does for you (or takes away). Food can be pleasurable and nourishing at the same time.
3/ Biohacking is Rich Man’s Game
This one needs some nuance. Sure, there are high-end tools like hyperbaric chambers, and NAD+ drips — that can accelerate healing. But your health shouldn’t depend on having a $20,000 protocol.
Some of the most powerful “biohacks” are ancient (and less sexy): walking in the sunlight, breathwork, and blood sugar stability.
SUBSTACK LIVE! I’ll be unpacking this hot topic and what actually supports women’s biology on Zillion Trillion this Friday, July 18 at 10am PST with Victoria de la Fuente. Subscribe so you don’t miss our event, Biohacking for Dummies ;)
All writing is for informational and entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
I talk to friends about my non-tech, no-spend biohacks a lot. Water first thing in the morning, get out into the sunlight as quickly as possible, have a bedtime routine that gets you (at least close to) 8 hours, etc. I’d love to see a post where you talk about a bunch of these ‘hacks’ that you use (and that the blue zones seem to innately know)!
Would love to know your favorite health podcasts!