Smoke and Mirrors
There’s a book I read a few years ago that I highly recommend called Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in Silicon Valley. It outlines the story of the rise of Theranos, a biotech startup founded by Elizabeth Holmes. If you’re not much of a reader, Apple TV adapted the story into a limited series called The Dropout, starring Amanda Seyfried.
The biotech industry was captivated by the company’s promise of a revolutionary blood-testing technology that could run hundreds of tests from a single drop of blood. Theranos attracted massive investments from serious individuals and was hailed as a game-changer in the healthcare space. The allure was undeniable—a secret technology that would disrupt the industry in a revelatory way, making diagnostics faster, cheaper, and more accessible across the globe.
However, as investigative journalises and whistleblowers dug deeper, one being the author of the book, John Carreyrou, the facade of the company began to crumble. This groundbreaking technology was, in reality, complete smoke and mirrors. The promised results were unattainable because the complete foundation on which they where built was flawed. As a result the world, and Elisabeth Holmes who’s currently still in prison as a result, learned a valuable lesson: when something sounds too good to be true, it very often is.
The story is remarkable when you consider the amount of money involved, the prominent individuals investing, and the eventual outcome that came from the trial that followed. It bears striking similarities and lessons mirrored within the health and fitness industry, where there’s a frequent allure of “secret” solutions. We’re bombarded across multiple platforms with promises of miracle diets, exclusive workout routines, and hidden tricks that guarantee rapid results. Just like Theranos’s elusive technology, these promises captivate us with the idea that shortcuts to our goals exist. But when we look behind the curtain, we often find that the real path to lasting health and fitness isn’t shrouded in secrecy—it’s built upon fundamental principles that have stood the test of time, offering genuine validity and reliable outcomes.
1. The Secret Is There Is No Secret.
In an age of information overlaid, it’s easy to believe that somewhere out there is a perfect nutritional plan or a revolutionary exercise programme that you just having tried yet, which will unlock your full potential and transform you overnight. The fitness industry often capitalises on this belief, promoting new fads and exclusive methods as the missing key we’ve all been waiting for.
But the truth is, there is likely no one-size-fits-all solution. Bodies are unique, we move in different ways, lifestyles vary, and wha may work for one person may not for another. Chasing after the latest trend often leads to more frustration and disappointment than it does actual outcomes. The real “secret” is understanding that lasting change comes from personalised, consistent efforts grounded in proven fundamental principles.
By accepting that there’s no hidden formula, we free ourselves form the endless search for the next best thing, and can focus on building habits that align with our own individual needs and goals.
2. Consistency Over Intensity
In our quest for quick results, we might be tempted to dive into intense workout programmes or heavily restricted dietary interventions. These all-or-nothing approaches can feel gratifying in the short-term in which you may experience accelerated progress towards a goal, but they’re rarely sustainable over time. Just as Thermos’s ambitious promises couldn’t actually withstand scrutiny of demonstrating what they said was the foundation of their business - hundreds of tests from a single drop of blood, our fitness efforts will likely falter if they’re not built on a consistent basis.
It’s often not about how hard you can push yourself in a single session, we can all run ourselves into the ground ground in a single workout, but how regularly you engage in the behaviours you’re trying to adopt over time. Consistency creates momentum, turning our actions into habits and habits into a lifestyle.
3. Progress Over Perfection
The downfall of Theranos serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of presenting an illusion of perfection while ignoring underlying issues. If you watch interviews of Elizabeth Holmes, you’ll notice her dress sense aiming to mirror Steve Jobs and her deliberate attempt to lower her voice to convey greater authority—all acts to create an image. In our personal health and fitness journeys, striving for any type of perfection can be equally detrimental. We often set unattainable standards, which can lead to disappointment and discouragement when we don’t meet them.
Instead, we can apply focus to the progress we’re making, acknowledging that improvement is a gradual process. Celebrate the small victories, like an extra few reps in an exercise, or choosing to eat until fullness rather than finishing a meal because you feel you have too. These small steps reinforce positive behaviour and help to keep motivation high. We can embrace the imperfections and allow ourselves to learn from the setbacks, turning the obstacles into opportunities for further growth.
4. Fundamentals Over Fads
Theranos and Elizabeth Holmes attempted to bypass the rigorous, methodological processes essential in scientific advancement. Similarly, fitness fads often promise results without adhering to foundational principles of health.
While sugar itself isn’t inherently bad, it does have caloric value (4 kcal/g). If I remove sugar from my diet and subsequently lose weight due to reduced calorie intake, it’s easy to stigmatise sugar as the cause of my initial weight gain, demonising it as the culprit. However, when we recognise the underlying principles—the basic laws of thermodynamics—we see that no single food source is inherently good or bad. Foods have varying nutritional and caloric content, and our overall consumption dictates whether we lose or gain weight.
Fundamentals like balanced nutrition, regular physical activity, adequate rest, and stress management remain the pillars of health. They aren’t as flashy or marketable as the latest trend, but their effectiveness is inconclusively backed by science and the test of time. These are the foundational core principles from which we build.
Bringing It All Together
The allure of a secret, a shortcut, or a revolutionary new technology or breakthrough is powerful. It plays on an important part of our human psychology. But as the Theranos story illustrates, relying on illusions can lead to disappointments and setbacks. The true success in fitness and health isn’t about discovering a hidden key - its about embracing the principles that are often right in front of us and have been used on repeat for as long as we can remember.
Acknowledge that there is no secret formula: Understand that sustainable changes comes from consistent personalised effort.
Prioritise consistency over intensity: Regular, manageable actions trump sporadic, extreme ones.
Focus on progress, not perfection: Appreciate the journey and growth rather tan chasing an unattainable ideal.
Rely on fundamentals over fads: Trust in time-tested principles instead of seeking quick fixes.
The story of Theranos is a modern reminder that when something seems too good to be true, it’s essential to look deeper. In the realm of health and fitness, this means recognising that there are no shortcuts or secrets - just solid principles that require commitment and patience. By pulling back the curtain on these illusions, we empower ourselves to take control of our own health and fitness journeys. We stop looking for magic solutions and start building habits that lead to genuine, lasting results. By embracing this reality, we can focus on what truly works and find satisfaction in authenticity.