How To Get Fit as a busy executive isn’t about chasing fad workouts or obsessing over the scale. In this episode, Julian Hayes II reveals two high-leverage fitness metrics that not only predict how long you’ll lead but also how well you’ll perform in business and life. 

You’ll learn why visceral fat and VO₂ Max are far more than health stats, how they directly influence your decision-making, stress resilience, and leadership presence, and the practical strategies to improve them even with a demanding schedule.

If you want a competitive edge that compounds for decades, this is your playbook.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

→ Why most executives measure the wrong health metrics and what to focus on instead

→ How visceral fat acts as a silent threat to leadership performance and longevity

→ The muscle–leadership connection: why lean mass is your biological insurance policy

→ Why VO₂ Max is your “health equity score” and a strong predictor of lifespan and stress resilience

→ Actionable strategies for improving both metrics with limited time

— Episode Chapter Big Ideas (timing may not be exact) —

0:00 – Introduction & why health is a leader’s ultimate competitive advantage

2:18 – The deeper reasons executives stay fit beyond aesthetics

6:45 – Visceral fat explained: the hidden health liability

13:22 – How visceral fat impacts decision-making, hormones, and stress resilience

18:40 – Using DEXA scans to get your “full body balance sheet”

24:55 – Lean mass as a biological currency for longevity and leadership presence

31:30 – Practical strategies to build and preserve muscle with limited time

35:42 – VO₂ Max: the overlooked metric that predicts leadership stamina

38:22 – Training strategies for VO₂ Max (Zone 2, intervals, strength)

40:20 – Recap & closing thoughts for high-performing leaders

— Key Quotes — 

“You can’t out-hustle broken biology. You can only go as far as your health allows.”

“Lean mass is your biological insurance policy; VO₂ Max is your health equity score.”

“The better your biological bandwidth, the more you can handle in business without breaking down.”

— Connect with Julian and Executive Health —

LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/julianhayesii/

Ready to take your health, leadership, and performance to the next level? Book a complimentary private executive health diagnostic call with Julian Hayes II. Link below.

https://calendly.com/julian-exechealth/chemistry

Website — https://www.executivehealth.io/

***DISCLAIMER: The information shared is not meant to treat or diagnose any condition. This is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes. The content here is not intended to replace your relationship with your doctor and/or medical practitioner.