How to: Fitness
What’s the deal with MLMs? How are weight loss drugs reshaping body standards? Can we actually trust what supplement companies are selling us Why do we eat the way we do - and who’s influencing it?
Veteran coaches Michael Ulloa and Kate Lyman are here to pull back the curtain on the wellness industry. How To: Fitness is a myth-busting, BS-free podcast that dives into the messy, nuanced, and often confusing world of fitness and nutrition. With evidence-based insight, candid takes, and digging into the darker corners of the wellness space, we help you make sense of what actually matters for your health—and what’s just noise.
How to: Fitness
51 | Toxic Masculinity: The Dark Side of Fitness Culture
Is the fitness industry helping men get healthier or just teaching them to suffer in silence?
In this episode “Toxic Masculinity: The Dark Side of Fitness Culture” of The How to Fitness Podcast, Kate Lyman and Michael Ulloa confront the damaging influence of toxic masculinity in the fitness industry. They explore how modern fitness culture has become more about proving dominance than promoting true health and well-being and the real-life consequences are staggering.
From the rise of steroid use among young men and the glorification of shredded, emotionally numb "alpha males" to the mental health crisis among male gym-goers, this conversation goes deep. Michael shares the personal toll of calling out toxic culture online, while Kate reveals why she left the CrossFit world after years of enduring misogyny.
This episode isn’t just a takedown of “gym bro” culture, it’s a wake-up call. If you're a fitness professional, health coach, or simply someone navigating your wellness journey, this conversation will change how you see the industry.
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Introduction to Unrealistic Fitness Ideals
00:17 Hosts Catch Up After a Break
00:56 Kate's Offline Week Adventures
03:35 Michael's Excitement for Today's Topic
04:49 The Impact of Toxic Masculinity in Fitness
05:55 Reading from 'Men Who Hate Women'
10:59 Defining Toxic Masculinity
15:43 Personal Experiences with Toxic Masculinity
19:10 Social Media's Role in Perpetuating Toxic Ideals
20:57 The Power of Self-Talk in Fitness
21:04 Toxic Masculinity in the Fitness Industry
21:34 Social Media's Role in Promoting Toxic Fitness Culture
22:40 Masculinity Marketing in Wellness Trends
23:15 Viral Fitness Influencers and Performative Masculinity
25:02 The Harmful Impact of Toxic Fitness Culture
25:41 Mental Health and Body Image Issues in Men
28:30 Steroid Use in the Fitness Industry
34:32 The Normalization and Risks of Steroid Use
37:12 Creating Inclusive Fitness Spaces
41:26 Final Thoughts and Call to Action
📚 Resources Mentioned:
Book: Men Who Hate Women by Laura Bates
TV Show: Adolescence – A must-watch on toxic masculinity and youth culture
Mental Health Stats: Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), Mental Health Foundation
Influencer Analysis: Liver King, Brian Johnson, and the problem with performative health
48 | How to Fix Your Feed and Feel Better About Your Body with Natasha Devon https://youtu.be/119cgjsFdmY
UK Anti-Doping Report https://www.ukad.org.uk/sites/default/files/2020-01/UKAD IPED Report FINAL.pdf
The global epidemiology of anabolic-androgenic steroid use: a meta-analysis and meta-regression analysis - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24582699/
Current use and abuse of anabolic steroids Uso y abuso de agentes anabolizantes en la actualidad - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/art
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🟡 Michael Ulloa: https://www.michaelulloa.com/
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🟡 Kate Lyman: https://www.katelymannutrition.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/klnutrition/
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