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[@BryanJohnson] “Bodybuilding Destroyed My Hormones”: Jesse James West on Longevity, Fitness, and Self-Worth

· 8 min read
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@BryanJohnson - "“Bodybuilding Destroyed My Hormones”: Jesse James West on Longevity, Fitness, and Self-Worth"

Link: https://youtu.be/_Kca3-PFIaU

Short Summary​

Here's a breakdown of the video transcript you provided:

Number One Action Item/Takeaway:

Shift your mindset to "Don't Die." Recognize that you are either moving towards life extension or slow-boil suicide with your daily actions.

Executive Summary:

This YouTube video explores the lifestyle, mindset, and future aspirations of fitness influencer Jesse James West. The discussion emphasizes the importance of a relentless work ethic, the challenges of maintaining mental wellness in the digital age, and a growing interest in longevity and anti-aging practices. Ultimately, the conversation underscores the shift in mindset from death as inevitable to active and intentional life extension.

Key Quotes​

Here are 5 insightful quotes from the transcript:

  1. "I feel that 14's young. even like 14 15 same same sort of vibe but I would say at that point in life you're really establishing your interests. So, I think it's about trying a lot of different things and that's what time should be put into like trying different sports, whether it's instruments, theater." - Jesse James West emphasizes the importance of exploration and discovering passions at a young age.

  2. "And that literally that exact day and and and experience altered my life forever where I now know that I'm the only one that's going to make the choice to to save or break me. like it's up to us as a singular singular person to define your choices and and take a path." - Jesse's reflection on quitting lacrosse highlights the power of personal agency and the importance of choosing one's own path, even when it diverges from expectations.

  3. "I definitely Oh, I can easily say that I definitely get run by the system. Really? And it's the system that I have put myself in. It's not it's not like social media. It's like literally me. I'm the system and I get run by it rather." - Jesse admits to being "run by the system" he created, offering a candid look at the potential downsides of a relentless work ethic.

  4. "You know, I'm excited as hell about AI. Like I know some people are probably like, 'Oh, it's going to be bad.' We have no idea, I guess, of what could happen. But for me, it excites me because there, you know, how many times have have you said, 'I wish I could just duplicate myself and that would be my like next employee. Like why can't I just make another Brian?'" - Jesse expresses optimism about AI, envisioning its potential to enhance productivity and expand personal capabilities.

  5. "Change your mindset to don't die... So you actually martyr yourselves like you stay up late you eat junk food you you're willing to trade life for financial success or status or power or something like that. It's a form of martyrdom. And so the first one on don't die is like you're just trying to train your mind to be aware like self-aware. you actively commit slow suicide and you call it you know living your best life or like work ethic." - Brian Johnson presents a striking perspective on societal habits and choices, characterizing them as a form of slow suicide in pursuit of external validation.

Detailed Summary​

Here is a detailed summary of the YouTube video transcript, focusing on key topics, arguments, and information discussed:

  • Introduction:

    • The video features an interview with fitness YouTuber Jesse James West by Brian Johnson.
    • The discussion revolves around Jesse's lifestyle, work ethic, approach to life, and health protocols.

  • Jesse's Relentless Work Ethic & Lifestyle:

    • Jesse describes his chaotic schedule, often involving multiple shoots in a single day when traveling to locations like LA.
    • He thrives on filming and enjoys working/hanging out simultaneously, deriving energy from it.
    • On planes, he uses time to brainstorm ideas, write video titles, and mentally pre-film upcoming shoots.
    • He feels guilty when not working or around loved ones due to a deeply ingrained belief that hard work equates to self-worth.
    • He sometimes feels overwhelmed by his busy schedule but navigates this by embracing a "nothingness phase" during vacations after an initial period of discomfort.

  • Jesse's Influences & Mindset:

    • His personality is influenced by his mom (lighthearted, creative), while his behavior stems from his dad (tough love, relentless).
    • His dad instilled a "never half-ass anything" mentality and to stay "three steps ahead".

  • Advice for a 14-Year-Old:

    • Explore various interests (sports, instruments, entrepreneurship).
    • Discover passions and let them guide you, staying focused and avoiding distractions like partying or drugs.
    • Jesse recalls a dark time when he was heavily involved with lacrosse and suppressed his love for fitness and social media.

  • The "Dark Place" & Quitting Lacrosse:

    • Jesse was a top-ranked lacrosse player with a scholarship to Lehigh University.
    • He felt trapped and suppressed his passion for fitness, leading to depression and anxiety.
    • He described the feeling as being held by the neck in shallow water.
    • A crying session in Target during parents weekend was a turning point, where he realized he needed to quit.
    • Quitting was the hardest decision he's made, but he learned the value of making choices that align with his true self.

  • Current Mental Wellness:

    • Jesse experiences occasional imposter syndrome but has significantly less anxiety and no depression.
    • His passion for his work and the support of his wife contribute to his well-being.
    • He has developed coping mechanisms for anxiety, recognizing it as an internal feeling and not letting it control him.

  • AI & the Future of Humanity:

    • Jesse is excited about the potential of AI and its ability to duplicate human capabilities.
    • He believes everyone will need to learn to use AI properly and it is about evolving with the game.
    • He wants to hire an AI expert to integrate the technology into his team.
    • The discussion touches on the potential for AI to surpass human capabilities and the uncertainty surrounding the future of work and human purpose.

  • Jesse's Health Protocol (Greenprint):

    • Goes to bed between 10:00 and 11:30 PM and wakes up around 8:00-9:00 AM.
    • Tries to stop eating before 10:00 PM (ideally 8:00 PM).
    • Enjoys rice cakes and Greek yogurt as nighttime snacks.
    • Has a strict skincare routine (cleanser, toner, hyaluronic acid, retinoid, moisturizer).
    • In the mornings, he avoids his phone, hydrates with water and electrolytes, eats Greek yogurt, and drinks coffee.
    • Prioritizes creative decision-making in the morning when his brain is fresh.
    • Lifts weights in the gym or home gym.
    • Typically does one blood test per year.

  • Anti-Aging & Longevity:

    • Jesse is increasingly interested in anti-aging and longevity.
    • He intends to focus less on bodybuilding and more on mobility, longevity, and overall health.
    • He talks about wanting to know what to do about the results of measurement and the "blueprint".
    • The discussion touches on the concept of "spending down" life without awareness and the importance of measurement (like blood work, wearables) to track health markers.
    • They discuss the possibility of slowing down the rate of aging and the potential for future technologies to reverse age.
    • They discuss whether a future societal collapse is of greater probability than dying of natural causes.
    • They discuss psychedelics and anti-aging.
    • They discuss past the threshold on whether there could've been an ancient human race before.

  • Personal Philosophical Thoughts:

    • Jesse talks about his mindfulness practice of making a "mmm" noise in his head to become present.
    • He shares how the moment when he almost died was a bifurcation of his life of living forever.

  • Top 5 Anti-Aging/Health Tips from Brian Johnson:

    1. Change Your Mindset: "Don't Die" - Shift away from glorifying self-destructive behaviors and become aware of how we are actively committing "slow suicide".
    2. Basic Measurement: Start tracking health metrics (blood work, wearables) to understand what's happening inside your body.
    3. Mental Health: Realize that most people are struggling with depression, anxiety, and insecurities. Corporations are manipulating this for profit.

    *Pillar life with sleep, diet and exercise.

  • Steroids:

    • Jesse shares his decision to not take steroids.
    • Discuss that steroids can cause premature aging and are a sacrifice that they are choosing.

  • International Travel & Dieting

    • International travel "wrecks" the body.
    • They fast on a plane.
    • Urinate a lot on flights to remove liquid

  • Black Hole Thought Experiment:

    • They discussed the enormity of the universe to highlight how we are a small part of reality.
    • Living forever and living tomorrow is the same idea.