Spotting The Frauds: Charlatans & Cowards vs. The Real Deal In Fitness

If you're grinding in the gym, sweating through those reps, busting your ass and chasing that unbreakable mindset, you've probably crossed paths with the snakes in the grass of the fitness world. I'm talking about the damn charlatans – those slick-talking frauds who peddle miracles in a bottle, promises six-pack abs (yet doesn't have any real strength to back it up) and then vanish when the going gets tough. But here's the kicker: many of these numbnuts aren't just liars; they're cowards too. They hide behind filters, dodge real accountability, take people's money giving them false hopes and crumble at the first sign of pushback. On the flip side, the real motherfuckers in fitness? They're the ones who show up, deliver the hard truths, and lead by example. No bullshit, just results.

This isn't some fluffy rant I go on (hardly ever actually). As someone who's been around this a long time and powering workouts for years, I've seen it all. From garage warriors to being trained by and worked out alongside the pros, the industry is packed with gems and garbage. Today, I want to give you some insights into the stark differences between these cowardly so called "men" and the authentic powerhouses who actually move the needle. If you're serious about your fitness journey, strap in. We're exposing the fakes and celebrating the real. Let's crush this.

The Hallmarks of a Charlatan: Promises Without Proof

First off, let's define the enemy. A charlatan in fitness is that guy (or gal) who rolls up with a shiny Instagram feed (or lack thereof), flexing or even talking like he's god's gift to exercise, claiming they've cracked the code to eternal youth or superhuman strength. But dig a little, and it's all smoke and mirrors. These folks thrive on hype, not substance. Make incredible claims such as "Losing 60 KG in less than 2 months", I've seen these words.

Take their marketing tactics. Charlatans love the quick-fix narrative. "Drink 10 liters of water a day" or "Build rippling muscle" even though he looks skinny fat. Sound familiar? It's because they've mastered the art of preying on desperation. They know you're tired of the grind, so they sell shortcuts that don't exist. But here's where the cowardice creeps in: they never back it up with real science or personal proof. No peer-reviewed studies, no long-term client testimonials (the real kind, not paid actors), and definitely no transparency about their own failures. They use copy and pasted reviews from others and turn them into fake reviews for their products. 

Real people in fitness? They're the opposite. Think of trainers like Matt Schifferlee or Chrys Johnson – evidence-based beasts who cite studies, explain biomechanics, and admit when something doesn't work for everyone. They don't promise the moon; they deliver a roadmap. A real pro will tell you, "Hey, this program works if you put in the work. No magic here." Charlatans? They ghost when you ask for details. Cowards can't handle scrutiny. Not to mention they get off on hate.

And let's talk money. Charlatans are all about the upsell. They hook you with a book that seems promising (Even though it's a carbon copy of Matt Furey or some other author), then bombard you with "premium" courses like a membership site that costs thousands of dollars a year, or coaching that's overpriced and  not only underdelivers, but potentially cause more harm than good. I've seen dudes charging $500 for a "custom plan" that's just a generic template. Cowardly? Absolutely. They avoid real competition by building echo chambers – blocking critics and surrounding themselves with gullible people. Real fitness pros welcome debate. They thrive on it because their methods hold up.

Cowardice in Action: Hiding from the Hard Stuff

What really sets these charlatans apart as cowards is their aversion to discomfort – both physical and mental. Fitness can be brutal yes; it's about pushing limits from time to time, learning from mistakes, and emerging stronger. But cowards? They fake it till they flake. Say they can do 25 pull-ups in one set when they show only 5. Say things like step ups being a lazy man's training when they can barely do 10. Then again, a 16 year old girl can probably outwork him LOL. 

Exhibit A: The social media facade. Charlatans post pics at times that look like they haven't showered, do maybe 3-4 reps of an exercise and tell you that they can really do 50 but never show the raw, unfiltered grind. No videos of them actually saying the numbers thy claim or sweating through a tough set. Why? Because vulnerability exposes weakness, and cowards can't risk that. They act tough online but bail on real challenges. They cherry-pick winners (often plants or non existent customers) and ignore the 90% who fail because their advice sucks.

Real people? They're in the trenches with you. Take someone like Adam Sinicki (AKA The Bioneer) – that man's a bad ass for a reason. He shares his breakdowns, his ideas, his battles. It's raw, it's real, and it inspires because it's honest. Or look at Brooks Kubik; he documents highs and lows, owns his mistakes and knows adaptability when it is necessary. No hiding. These folks embody courage by showing that failure is part of the process. The other douche-canoes, make claims that drinking 35 cups of espresso and smoking Marlboros is healthy and never changes. Tell you to go extreme all the time and not let your body heal or truly recover.  

Another cowardly trait: Avoiding confrontation. Charlatans love to bash those that don't agree with their methods or make you have logical debates in vague terms but crumble when called out and couldn't handle a debate that even a 5th grader can beat them at. The real badasses, they can debate but also listen to what you have to say, you may go back and forth but regardless of the outcome, they'll be shaking your hand or even saying thank you and give you props.

And don't get me started on accountability. Charlatans dodge refunds, ignore client complaints, and shift blame: "You didn't follow it right!" Cowards can't admit fault because according to them, they're right even when they believe 2x2=5. Real ones? They offer guarantees, follow-ups, and revisions because they believe in their work and willing to work with their customers or clients.

Real people also emphasize sustainability. Charlatans push extremes: diets that are harmful to the human body, insane workouts that lead to burnout or injuries. Cowards don't care about long-term health; they want quick sales. Real pros? They build habits with starting points. "Track progress, adjust as needed." It's about lifelong gains, not fleeting highs or pushing to exhaustion without getting recovery.

In terms of community, real people foster growth. They create spaces for discussion, not worship. Charlatans build cults, expect followers to do as told as if you don't follow their commandments, you're a loser and a weak POS. It's sickening and degrading. 

Stark Contrast To Authors Who Either Publish Or Scam Those Into Believing Something Will Be Published

One of the things I've noticed in recent years is that when an author is about to write a new course or about to publish....Some will let you in on little details and even show a glimpse of what the possibilities are. Sure it's a tease, but they make it worth the wait. Others (and I'm not joking about this), will tell you one thing, then another and throw your brain around like a ragdoll with what they "plan" to publish but never actually do. There are those who put products on pre-order and keep them there for YEARS and still make people believe they should buy it when in reality, they're pushing people to invest in basically air. This is pure scamming and it has happened to many people. The ad copy is there but there's nothing behind it. 

Why It Matters: Empowering Your Journey

At the end of the day, the fitness industry is a battlefield. Charlatans and cowards clutter it with noise, making it hard for genuine voices to rise. But you? You have the power to choose. Ditch the frauds who hide and lie; align with the real ones who fight alongside you.

Next time you see a flashy ad, ask: Does this person show their work? Do they handle heat? Are they in it for you or their wallet? Choose wisely, and you'll crush goals like never before. We all need to make a living but there's a difference in investing that is worth it vs. investing in someone who couldn't deliver a pizza. 

If this resonates, share your stories in the replies, or hit me with questions (No Anons or you will be deleted). I'm here for the real talk. Let's build that unbreakable body and mind together. Be amazingly awesome.

Ideas From A Traveling Strongman

            There are strongmen around the country who travel to schools, churches, prisons and occasional corporate offices upwards to 300 days a year. Some travel all over the world, some just in the U.S like my friend Bud Jeffries does. Now what they do is not always the same, I've witnessed first hand two very distinctive differences in their performances. Some do what’s called Junk Feats where they’re feats that seem legit but really are as fake as you can get, an extreme few are legit. The other is called the Real Deal where they take certain objects and although the feat may seem like a fake it’s really a legit one like bending steel, tearing a deck of cards right out of the package, hammer levering and so forth. A traveling strongman has to be creative and learn their distinct patterns for a performance. This can be ideal for your training.

            Some strongmen perform the same feats in a show where there’s a pattern or routine for them that sets their mind to think automatically to do the next feat. Some others perform certain feats on a certain day either to change it up a little bit or because they got hurt doing a certain feat that it’s tough for them to perform at their best. It’s like a fitness program, you set your mind to specific exercises and you follow a routine that is suitable to what you want to accomplish. I have literally seen some off the wall feats but also I look for a specific type of routine that has meaning and can be used in a creative and fun way. Although I change my workouts frequently, I still find certain exercises that go hand and hand with my mind and my body that works for me.

            One thing many people ask about strongmen who are on tour is how they get themselves motivated? How do they go day after day finding that inner strength to show their positive side and their will to teach and show these incredible feats to other people? Well, in my opinion, they learn to pick up things from a certain place, program their minds to set a certain tone that gives them that “Winning Feeling” of putting themselves out there to the crowd and learn to use their own story and share it with the people their performing for. Quite frankly I don’t know how the hell they do it but that’s my take on it.

            Last thing I want to point out is that there are certain strongmen who perform just for the sake of performing and don’t have anything else to give back to the people other than some arrogant prick who can bend a silly bar just to make certain people inadequate; however there are some guys and gals out there that give back to the people they’re performing for, sharing their story of how tough it was for them and how they’re just like the rest of us only in a different format. My friend Bud happens to be the latter because underneath all that muscle and smiling persona, he’s really an awesome and sweet guy who wants to make a living helping out the other guy. Show that you are a special person and that you have a brighter future where you don’t need to be macho to get what you want. It takes a man of character and a man of great heart to tell you that there’s no need to bully anyone, no need to be afraid of whom you are. You are an awesome person and you can go places if you apply yourself with the right mindset and the right tools to get you there. He is truly a one of a kind strongman and an incredible human being. 

       If you want some good ideas on how to be creative and how to apply your training in a certain way, talk to a strongman, they're very creative in what they do (at least some I've heard of) and have some wonderful motivational tips that can jump start your training and how it applies to you like how certain feats are to a strongman performing, they're there for a specific reason.