Critical mass
For years, we tried to share our ideas about fitness through mainstream periodicals and promotional materials tied to the many movie projects we worked on. In the world of film, “the look is primary,” and we saw this as an opportunity to emphasize the importance of functional ability as the main focus, with aesthetics as a natural side effect. However, these platforms were not designed for meaningful communication, and it took us far too long to realize this. Time and again, we were let down by the average “fitness journalist,” which only deepened our disillusionment and cynicism in an industry already rife with charlatans and snake oil salesmen.
We shared training concepts and nutritional guidance that reflected our practice—one rooted in introspection and exploration rather than dogma or trends. We were always honest about our work, openly acknowledging what we knew and what we didn’t. Yet, despite this transparency, people perpetuated false claims and misinterpreted our methods, often for their own self-interest. The focus that brought us success—an emphasis on effort and capability—has been overshadowed by a culture of celebrity worship and a growing disbelief in the value of hard work.
We want to set the record straight: to explain what we did, how we did it, how we would approach the same tasks today, and the finer details that often get lost in the noise of supplements and rep schemes. The first misconception we want to address is the foundation from which you approach an aesthetic goal.
When we talk about manipulating diet and training to achieve aesthetic transformation—generally, more lean mass and less body fat—it may sound superficial. Some might even dismiss it as “unfunctional.” But this pursuit is far from shallow. Aesthetics training comes with inherent psychological challenges and physical limits, but we’ve found that striving to change your physical appearance can lead to profound self-awareness. Through the physical and mental demands of strength-endurance training, a deeper understanding of oneself often emerges.
You might write this off as vanity, but dismissing the reflection in the mirror is a blind spot. Your appearance matters to you, whether you admit it or not, and ignoring it doesn’t diminish its importance.
When you look in the mirror, what do you see? This isn’t about self-love or even self-like—it’s about alignment. Do you appear as the person you feel you are?
If the answer is no, you’re not alone. Most people experience this disconnect. We’ve been fortunate to recognize this mismatch and help others align their perception with their reality. Some might tell you that acceptance is the answer, but there’s a difference between compassion and complacency. What if you don’t like what you see? What if masking or ignoring this feeling no longer works? What if you want to change? How would you go about it?
For us, the answer lies in meaning.
What we often dismiss as vanity might actually reflect a deeper truth about the universe: a reverence for beauty. The natural world is full of objectively beautiful things—sunsets with their gradients of tangerine and indigo, the intricate geometry of bee hives, sea shells, and Romanesco broccoli. These forms have inspired artists for millennia. So why is it surprising that humans are captivated by the symmetry and structure of the human body?
The only time beauty becomes hollow is when it lacks function. That’s why we’ve always insisted that even clients with purely aesthetic goals develop real capability. Henry Cavill deadlifted 500 pounds and rowed a sub-7-minute 2k. People often ask for the secret, and there it is: capability. Capability not only has a look, but it also projects confidence—a confidence rooted in what you know about yourself and your ability to apply it in the world. True confidence is forged through repetition and the certainty it builds. The “look” is simply a side effect.
Teaching someone to shape themselves in a way that catches their own attention creates a powerful shift. That attention becomes self-awareness, which often leads to curiosity about what else they can change or develop. Witnessing your body grow stronger or leaner through conscious effort is the ultimate cause-and-effect experience. It sparks other acts of agency: relationships are reevaluated, life experiences shift, and new possibilities emerge. All of this can stem from exploring your so-called “superficial” potential.
It’s not that gaining muscle or losing fat is inherently enlightening, but the process of appreciating beauty—your own or the world’s—can create a self-reinforcing cycle of growth. It’s a mirror reflecting a mirror, or as ancient philosophers described it, a “strange loop” of consciousness. Life, at its core, is a self-making property. When this process reaches critical mass, it produces self-love—not the overused, misunderstood mantra of entitlement, but a skill developed over time through the exploration of your inner and outer nature.
Self-love is to self-work as beauty is to the beholder.
The foundation for change—whether it’s adding lean tissue, reducing body fat, or simply becoming more comfortable in your own skin—starts with accurate self-assessment. It begins with an awareness of who you are and who you want to become.
