This is a video I've wanted to make for a long period of time. If you enjoy this new content style smash that like button. (If you don't, feel free to dislike, I won't hold it against you).

"Give a man a barbell, he will lift for a day. Give a man body dymorphia, he will lift for a lifetime."

Marketing experts always play on people's insecurities, the easiest industry is fitness. Thanks for talking about this Omar

Dom is a philosophical visionary

Im 33 now started lifting a little over a year ago. So there's a lot of people in the gym bigger than me, yet when I go out in public walmart/grocery store/social settings/etc I look around and im one of the fittest guys there, yet at the gym I feel like a tiny weakling. My main goal in lifting is hypertrophy but the thing that keeps me going the most is how healthy and mobile I am, especially for my age. I see other guys I grew up with around my age in their 30s and they are mostly fat, out of shape, couldn't run a mile if their life depended on it. Meanwhile I'm lean, fit, I run, lift, hike, I can move my body without pain unlike them. I can walk up stairs without being out of breath. I can squat down and tie my shoes with ease. It's the little things. You'd be surprised how difficult little things we take for granted are to so many people.

I used to be 400 lbs, I’ve fallen in love with the process, and no matter how lean I get(220.9 today) I have already won. Love the content Omar.

I started taking SARMs when I was 20 because I had an unrealistic goal in my mind and I was too obsessed with it. Now I play basketball, run, do yoga, I still lift 3-4 times a week but I have other fitness habits now, I still get compliments on my physique but I’ve lost 10 lbs of muscle and gained some fat, overall I feel happier not being as obsessed with bodybuilding.

I will never ever stop being grateful that I didn’t go through my teenaged years in the age of social media. My insecurities were pretty distinct, but thankfully I didn’t fall too far into the well of body dysmorphia, since I was in my late 20’s when this media landscape reached the place where this all got really bad

Having been lifting since 2013 when I was 17, it's been wild to see everyone's idea of what's considered muscular change drastically over the past decade. I remember in 2014 heading into freshman year of college, having just finished my first year natty gains, and getting compliments all the time and others asking what I was doing. I was considered very muscular by just about everyone except for those in the lifting community. I noticed a change in society back in 2018 when one of my ex's made a comment that I was not that muscular and there are a ton more on instagram, etc. I was 240 lbs at 12% bf at 6'5", lifted for 5 years naturally at that point. 2023 and I'm sitting at 248 lbs, 12% bf and I've basically hit my natural genetic potential and I've never felt smaller. The amount of guys my age and younger I see at the gym now who are clearly on gear is wild. The expectations of what's considered a great physique has moved so far into the realm thats only possible with super-physiological test/androgen levels.

I am glad I didn’t grow up with social media. My biggest insecurity was being 5’11 in a football family of giants. After I graduated I wanted to have something to keep my athletic stoke high so I thought “bodybuilding? Yeah maybe, I played college football and am no stranger to weights, I should be good at this.” I remember some dude telling me about my “chest gap” and how it would limit me in the future. That, combined with a real bad time dating a bb girl and that drama, the “gear” usage at the gym I was at, and my joints kinda sorta being wretched in certain ways from football, I looked elsewhere. I found calisthenics and boxing, then tried tennis, golf, dancing and endurance sports and thru hiking. These days it’s mostly calisthenics and running. I’m almost 41, but still have abs and my chest gap lol. To put a point on it, there’s a whole wide world of fitness. Being jacked and tan is cool but so are a lot of other things too.

Health should always be centered around feeling good, moving well and exhibiting vitality. The aesthetic should be nothing more than a positive side effect to your training.

Thank you so much for talking about this. I have thought so much about quitting lifting recently and continuously asking myself "What's the point?" "There's no ultimate goal to this stuffing my face into a loss of a sense of self worth if it's never going to end" But you opened my eyes to the fact that it's about progress, you're bettering yourself, and that's all that matters, and THATS the goal.

You have not been missing with these uploads lately. You have a platform that can help a lot of people so I appreciate you doing this, as this subject is pretty close to my heart too. Great video!

Well said Omar! I can't help but to notice the growing number of roiders in my gym. One of them even approached me, saying he sees me in the gym every day since years, yet I'm so small, and that he knows where to seek help if I need it. The perception of others is a point well made too. Social media keeps distorting the already unrealistic body exceptions even further. Even though I choose not to partake in social media myself, my friends and family keep me showing perfectly set up pictures of fitness models that they see on Instagram, telling me that I am doing something wrong and should aim to look more like them. There are more than enough reasons to hit the gym other than trying to look good. I am the only person in my family who is not obese and has no joint issues or back pain. That is more than enough to keep me going.

Thumbnail prediction on Iron Culture - spot on.

Excellent. Been watching your content for over a decade, this year. You're a lighthouse on a stormy see, thank you.

I love the themes and angles of your new videos. You have grown. Thank you for taking us with you on this journey. Your viewpoint is needed! Cheers c:

Thank you, Omar. The last few videos have shed light on an issue the world is facing. I appreciate you, family.

This is an amazing video and hits really close to home. I’ve found myself feeling a lot like this as of late with no matter how much I improve I’m still upset with where I am. Really eye opening.

Just started using Instagram, and oh lord there are a lot of young people that needs to hear this message. It's so sad to see young people on PEDs and/or having body image and self-esteem issues.

Thanks for putting this out there, Omar. It’s an important but neglected subject. Between this video and your last podcast, you’ve got me reevaluating my motivations for doing what I do.

The way you are, your intelligence, your ability to communicate and the amount of people you're helping, should definitely make you happier. Thanks Omar.

Love the age 5/age 9 comparison. My mom saved my school pics too.

This was a really really good video! Having a positive male role model like discussing these concepts/issues is so great! Keep this direction up!

About 8-9 years ago I would watch your videos a lot and now I'm getting back into fitness this is a perfect video I could have asked for. Thank you Omar for your words of wisdom. I will take them with me as I begin my journey again of reaching fitness goals.

Production quality and quality of content are superb. Love the persona you embody within the fitness industrial complex.

Great video, Omar, and a very classy response to that French narcissist natural hypertrophy, whose body dysmorphia caused him to chastise your physique a month or two ago.

Exceptional video sir. Definitely something I needed to hear as of late, so thank you!

When I started around 10-11 years ago, it was absolutely normal to have no real progress for and just to try things out. No one looked at advice or people online. All my knowledge came from bro advice until I myself found out how this worked. They way I approach lifting is doing it just for the cause. I want to be bigger and stronger. I know I won’t reach my goals because I always shift them. But it’s not a big deal. Do it for the difficult. Not for other people.

The problem with bodybuilding as a "sport" is that is a subjectove beauty pageant, combined with the simplistic movements of the gym its hard to feel as you have acomplished anything like in other sports gymnastics or any other sport where there is always new moves and areas you can work on

Thank you for this video Omar. One of most important ones you've ever made.

A quote that has stuck with me: 'We can't hate ourselves into a version of ourselves we can love.'

Loving the new editing style!!

Glad you're back Omar. Keep up this lit stuff

00:08 The way you say "The Biggest Problem In The Fitness Industry" lines up with the beat so well. Great use of syncopation.

This was a much needed eye opener for me. Thank you.

My man strong comeback… Awesome topic with badass editing. Missed ya 🤙🏻

Things that have helped me: Barbell Medicine articles and podcasts, Alan Thrall's videos, my awesome trainer, and of course your videos - but those pale in comparison to your t-shirts which I always where while training "too weak to quit!"

This is one of the best and most important videos in the fitness ecosystem. Good job, Omar.

This applies for strength training as well. Antón fomenko once put me in awe because his warm Up was literally my workout. So i told my Friends, but everyone expected me to feel miserable about It. And un media many people "encourage" People Who post their lifts, but also "clarify how they are still able to lift more than them"

really liking these current uploads omar :) keep it up

It is good to see what men go through in fitness. Helps to relate and help me to learn to be supportive.

That commercial at the end is the icing on the cake. Love it!

Awesome Omar! My training is all based on mental health (ptsd) and there is a spill over effect from physical strength to mental. Also posture improvement and flexibility will make you attitude better and make you better at handling things, that are purely mental. I really love the way I look when I am not considering suicide. Keep it up bro! And thank you for high quality usefull advice. You do make a difference.

Love this kind of content! Thanks for posting it and being honest and vulnerable during the video! Also I love Raskop Apparel. I got too much and now half my wardrobe consists of raskol😅

Awesome video. This goes deeper than fitness, humans as a whole don't know what happiness truly is and as such we look for it in all the wrong places.

Good job analysing the psychology of this all. Great points.

Maybe I'm an outlayer (if thats the right term)... I just love the exercise, I don't care about taking selfies. I just like lifting, running, sports, HIIT, swimming. Whatever, just get me moving. If I get a marvel physique thats a nice byproduct, however its not my goal. My goals are touching my toes and getting off the toilet painfree at 70. Carry my shopping, not being pulled over by pets or grandkids. This stuff matters, not my abs.

As a transwoman, I have this issue from two angles: One being becoming fit and looking good through training, and the other being seeing other transwomen and their transition results and feeling like my own hasn't been successful. The only way I've found to find peace of mind is to only look to myself, realize my body is unique for better or worse and do what I can with what I have. I have my own life, my own potential. I will be a better version of myself. I'll keep lifting and it's not to find fulfillment in an ideal, but to find fulfillment in self-improvement and being strong.

Please don't ever stop making videos Omar 🙏 your channel is one of my favorites 🫶😅

Brother, I have been lifting for 5 years now and this is the best video related to fitness i have ever seen in my entire life. Thanks for this 🙂

This is the best video I’ve seen in a long time!!!❤❤❤❤❤

Damn, solid video Omar. Such an important topic.

Great video. Glad I found this channel.

Lift long enough naturally and you’ll eventually get over it. Once you see for yourself what the limitations really are and how they’re completely out of your control. You can just accept that you get what you get and focus on other things in life while enjoying the hobby for all its benefits:

Fantastic video. Very well made. Very informative. Awesome message to put out there man kudos

What a great video, and it’s gonna help a lot of people!

6th Step: Confidently and unironically cover your bod in a Canadian tuxedo because congratulations you’ve achieved self actualization.

This is a must see video. Thanks Omar ♥

F***ing amazing video and loving the new content!

If you wan't to start in fitness there are few steps to do: 1.Start 5x5;just follow the program 2.Delete social media;like Instagram and youtube 3.just it whatever you like and just try to be consistent

Big True. Another banger video brother

Great message as always

This video was very relatable. I started lifting bc I'm a small guy (5'2"), and I went from 110lbs when I started to now, 5 years later, sitting at 145lbs and around 18% body fat. I got into powerlifting around year 2 into my training and it propelled my strength gains at first. I have competed 7 times and have enjoyed each one. But I have had to step away recently. I compare myself too much to guys who are extremely different from me: prior athletic experience, bigger, taller, etc. It started to eat at me and I'd constantly wonder why I haven't achieved certain numbers that seemed "standard" for men my age and it made me feel so resentful and bitter. So now, I am just focusing on having fun with my training again and doing movements that make me feel good. I still do want my big 3 barbell lifts to grow, so my lifts are centered around that goal, but I am currently training just to train and enjoy how it Feels. No upcoming meets, no focus purely on numbers, just letting myself do lifts I enjoy. I haven't done RDLs and pullups in a while and I missed them. I haven't squatted high bar in almost 2 years and my elbows finally don't have tendonitis anymore. I'm doing front squats just to see what kind of progress I can make. It has done so much good for my mental health. I think most of us should worry about what will be sustainable for us when it comes to training. Most of us are not pros, but we still love to lift and want to make time for it. Sometimes that means shifting gears.

I havent seen an interesting youtube video about fitness for a very long time. Thanks.

Great vid Omar, spitting facts

Super valid points! Thanks!

When you mentioned making more gains after that dieting period of 2010-13ish it reminded me of something most of your newer followers won't know about. Remember when you considered doing that bodybuilding competition with Matt Ogus and Chris Jones? I think it was called Muscle Mayhem lol

This is my new favourite video on fitness in general, people need to know it's not the end scene that matters so much but the journey, enjoy life lift as heavy as you want or can and smile more, stop being afraid of what people think, I pulled a double bicep pose in the middle of the gym in front of the mirror I was working out in front of, and I loved what I saw 155lb roughly 20% body fat, a sweaty out of breath face but with a smile, a much bigger leaner young lad next to me also pulled a double bicep as did the next guy and further down a lady, before we knew it the gym was doing a Mexican wave with front double bicep poses and laughing their heads off 🙏👍💪

Simply quality content that's extremely underrated. 👌

Awesome and lifesaving video sir ! Keep up the good work ! God shall bless you

Omar trying to cure the cancer in the fitness industry 👏🏻 I’m here with you King. On a side note can you please hook me up with a daddy dump truck t shirt. I been rockin with you and raskol apparel for a hot minute 🙌🏻😂

Jeeez Louiiize this is such a good video !!!

Appreciate the feature haha and very true message for some people absolutely!

Fantastic video bro!

great video omar thank u so much

I think a big challenge for folks is that they don’t feel like they have anything else, or don’t have control over anything else. In the case of the former, I see this a lot with people who are or think they could be competitors.

Damn Omar, this is incredible. Watched you since you were that skinny fat kid when you first started on YT. Glad to see you're still making videos

Gonna be honest: I did my first powerlifting meet and benched over 400 in competition, which were longterm goals for me. I'm actually pretty happy now and my motivation has lagged in the gym because I'm pretty much content and I have to fight the feeling that I'm in the "post-game"

Such an important video and so glad you made it. This video reminds me a lot of Buddhism’s second noble truth: that desire leads to suffering. When we get the thing, it’s not enough and we want the next thing. As Alan Watts put it, it’s the snake eating its own tail. It’s hard to strive for self-improvement while also being happy with who we are. But it’s possible! Thanks for your contribution.

Hey, Omar! I’m a 5 year natural bodybuilder who used to watch you, Jeff nippard and alpha destiny religiously back when I began lifting. Keep up the content and know that I’m going to pass up your progress 😮😉

I love the video and I love the gym clothes. I wear mine all the time. My favorite is the "all pain no gain" shirt.

The gym that I go to have big pictures of older bodybuilders up on the wall above the mirrors. All these guys have used steroids to get where the got to. They need to put naturals up there and then more common people can see what they can actually achieve.

Great video. Timely for me, too.

Well done!!

“Comparison is the thief of joy.” ~ Theodore Roosevelt

Omar the Wisest of the Fitness Industry

Great video!

Very well put

Omar Isuf is the counter gym culture we need in 2023. Get this man to 1 million Subs

Great video Omar

Body filters are crazy. I got into the whole fitness thing when I competed in bodybuilding a decade ago. I remember people looking good, but after a couple years hiatus, I've been getting back into it and everyone online looks incredible. Then I learned there's not only body filters for pictures, but video too! These people already have top 1% physiques and then add a filter to it in perfect lighting making it quite literally impossible to achieve for any mortal being. Just kinda wild how nowadays, these influencers are posting pictures and videos of physiques they don't even have. My gym is a very bodybuilding focused niche gym that some influencers like to shoot content in, and these people are coming in with professional lighting setups, DSLR cameras, taking a million shots before finding one they're happy with, editing the fuck out of it, then posting it and saying, "Do this wacky dumbbell lunge variant to get my body!" Like, bitch, that ain't even your body, lmao.

I think bodybuilding and aesthetics might be pretty bad. Chasing skills in gymnastics, calisthenics, and climbing have yielded great results for my physique and it's been super fun.

This video is a well needed wake up call about the expectations vs reality of fitness.

I am glad I got into all of this 10+ years ago from the SS and GOMAD thing. There's a lot you can say about some of the dogmas from that camp of lifting, I branched out fairly quickly. But I will say that worrying about how much whole fat milk you can dunk down per day to get your squat up was probably preferable to being an impressionable and terminally online teen today getting into fitness from all the wrong angles.

Thank you

Super good information.

clean editing.

I have my moments but for the most part I feel much better about myself now than before I started lifting. The ease of which I can maintain leanness, a routine, and continue to get better in the gym in some way even with hypertrophy being my main goal helps breed more confidence than I ever had at any other point in my life.

Awesome video.