So, am I a cult leader? Our resident tube of toothpaste "Goji Fat Ben Gay" thinks so, that and more on training EXTREME daily!

Big fan of cult documentaries and understanding the psychology along with the manipulating, the jealousy, the obsession and the abuse these people put on others especially tearing them down to act superior or make accusations that make no sense or aren't real but only real to them. Not to mention the fake conversations that have with themselves or others to act convincing. Even go as far as to use Freedom Of Speech as a crutch in order to make themselves believe they can get away with whatever they want when in reality, they will suffer consequences that will haunt them and will be dealt with one way or another.

One of the biggest red flags of a fitness cult leader (or just a dumb fucknut with a big mouth) is the "my way or the highway" mentality. There are no discussions, no adjustments, and no room for individual differences. If you question the program, you're accused of making excuses. If you succeed somewhere else, it "doesn't count." Every road somehow leads back to their method because admitting there are multiple paths to success would weaken the illusion that they've discovered the only truth worth following. Another tell is the constant need to divide the world into believers and outsiders. You're either "one of us" or you're weak, lazy, a cuck or brainwashed. Everything becomes tribal.

Science is only accepted when it agrees with them. Experience only matters when it's their experience. Every coach/trainee who disagrees is suddenly an idiot, and every athlete who leaves is written off as someone who "couldn't handle it." It's a very convenient way to avoid accountability because the system is never wrong—only the people who question it are. Fitness doesn't operate in absolutes. Bodies adapt differently. Recovery varies. Goals change. Good coaches understand that. Cult leaders can't afford to. Their identity depends on convincing people that flexibility or strength training from something other than their method is failure and that loyalty is more important than results. Some of these results make one look sickly and age 10+ years making them look older than they actually are. Funny thing, the strongest coaches are often the least threatened by different ideas. They'll tell you when another method might fit your goals better. They'll encourage you to think critically and make informed decisions. A cult-minded coach sees independent thinking as competition. They don't want students who can eventually stand on their own—they want followers who never leave and keep paying these people for promises that never come. If someone has to remind you they're the only one who has the answers, chances are they don't and are a fraud with evidence that's anecdotal, not realistic or even practical. Real confidence doesn't need to silence disagreement. It welcomes it, tests it and either learns from it or proves it wrong. The "my way or the highway" mindset isn't a sign of strength. More often than not, it's a sign that an ego has become more important than the athlete. It drives them mad and puts them into a fit of rage where they will even threaten someone with a gun in order to feel empowered when in this case, it proves they live on cop outs, fantasies, avoiding accountability and believe in their own hype.

Jealousy has a funny way of disguising itself. It usually doesn't come out and say, "I wish I had what you've got." Instead, it hides behind constant criticism, excuses and trying to tear other people down. I've noticed that the people who spend the most time obsessing over someone else's training are often the ones doing the least amount of training themselves. They're too busy typing novels, picking apart every little thing and convincing themselves they're somehow superior instead of putting that same energy into improving their own lives. Here's the truth: people who are genuinely confident don't need to make someone else look small to feel bigger. They stay focused on their own journey, keep experimenting, keep learning and keep putting in the work. If somebody else's success bothers you that much, maybe it's time to stop watching them so closely and start asking yourself why. Your progress will always come from what you do in the gym, at home or wherever you train—not from spending your day trying to knock somebody else down. Be amazingly awesome.

So, am I a cult leader? Our resident tube of toothpaste "Goji Fat Ben Gay" thinks so, that and more on training EXTREME daily!

Rahul Mookerjee

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