If you want to get leaner and live longer, go to Milliondollarbodylabs.com

A new 47-year longitudinal study is making the rounds with a scary takeaway: if you weren't fit in your 30s, you're basically out of luck later in life. That interpretation is wrong, incomplete, and lazy. In this episode, we break down what the study actually tracked, what it really tells us about human performance over time, and why fitness is better understood as a trajectory problem, not a deadline problem.

We talk about how aerobic capacity, strength, and power tend to peak earlier in life, why that early peak gives you margin later on, and where people misinterpret "decline" as "doom." We also zoom out and connect this research to other well established predictors of longevity and independence like grip strength, VO2 max, daily movement, and basic functional capacity.

If you've ever wondered whether starting later means it's pointless, or whether what you do now still matters, this episode puts that question to rest. The answer is not comforting, but it is empowering.

What the 47-year study actually measured and what it did not
Why fitness peaks earlier but remains modifiable for decades
How starting level and rate of decline matter more than age alone
Why grip strength, aerobic capacity, and movement volume predict longevity
The difference between locking in a baseline and locking in your fate
The real takeaway for people in their 30s, 40s, and beyond

You don't age out of fitness. You age into consequences. The goal isn't to stay young. The goal is to raise your floor and slow the slope.

If you want to get leaner and live longer check out https://milliondollarbodylabs.com

Why do most people quit right before they achieve mastery, and how can you build leadership that lasts decades through small, unsexy reps every single day?

I talk with Jay Pages. He owns a gym in Arizona. He describes leaving his career as an officer of loans during a bubble burst to coach. We discuss leadership from the top down and the need for action over words. He explains the journey to a belt and how mastery starts after a decade of practice. We explore the use of games to build skills and how resistance improves learning. Jay shares how he puts his ego in check to learn from students. He explains how training helps him find peace in traffic. We talk about the bonds formed through sweat and the value of choosing a path of discipline.

Key Takeaways

• Leadership is built through daily, unsexy reps over decades, focusing on competence over just excitement.

• Culture starts at the top. To earn loyalty, a leader must show up for their people when it counts, regardless of their level or status.

• The Ecological Dynamics or Constraints Led Approach (CLA) focuses on learning through games and resistance rather than static drilling.

• Check your ego to remain a student. Growth stops when you believe you have nothing left to learn from others, including those with less experience.

• Jiu-Jitsu makes you comfortable with being uncomfortable, providing mental and spiritual strength that translates into patience in high-stress life situations.

• Choose your hard or it will be chosen for you. Disciplined training prepares you to handle life's daily frustrations with a smile.

• Jay Pages Jiu-Jitsu & MMA Website: https://jaypagesjjmma.com

• Jay Pages' Instagram: @jayjpages https://www.instagram.com/jayjpages

Nate Palmer:

The founder of The Million Dollar Body and author of "The Million Dollar Body Method", Nate has been coaching for over 15 years and has worked personally with over 1,000 clients.

• Website: https://milliondollarbodylabs.com/
  
  

• Book: The Million Dollar Body Method
  
  

• Lean Energy Stack: https://milliondollarbodylabs.com/pages/lean
  
  

Instagram: @_milliondollarbody

If you want to get leaner and live longer check out https://milliondollarbodylabs.com

Fitness is growing up.
The people getting leaner and staying healthy aren't doing extreme programs, chasing novelty, or training like competitors. They're building capacity, regulating stress, and removing friction.
In this episode, we break down the real fitness trends heading into 2026 based on research, behavior shifts, and what successful people are actually doing. No hype. No hacks. Just what works.

What You'll Learn in This Episode

• Why fitness is shifting from aesthetics to metabolic health
• How training volume and intensity are quietly coming down while results improve
• Why zone 2 cardio and strength training are becoming the foundation
• What nutrition habits are replacing extreme diets
• Why sleep is now the main fat loss lever
• How nervous system regulation is becoming a competitive advantage
• Why supplements are getting simpler instead of more complex
• How identity based habits are replacing challenge culture