Shivam Dave

FreeGym is now available to download on the App Store! We just released it, so it hasn't been indexed yet (this usually takes 24 to 72 hours). It probably won't show up in search results right now, but you can use the link in the comments to download it directly to your iOS device.

I don’t know why it’s so hard for people in the nutrition space to understand that the first law of thermodynamics is the global constraint, while hormones, metabolic rate, hunger signals, the gut microbiome, food reward pathways, and neural responses are local mechanisms. No matter how hard you try, you can’t bypass the global constraint. I guess denying the constraint makes your product or idea seem revolutionary. Most people aren't trained to think about nested levels of causation: Physics → Chemistry → Biology → Psychology → Sociology Each level has its own rules AND must respect constraints from levels above. Nutrition education rarely teaches this hierarchy. So people think if hormones matter, thermodynamics must not, rather than understanding hormones operate within thermodynamic constraints. When you understand the thermodynamic outcome ahead of time, you can eat and train with intention - in ways that actually support your goals and help you grow. You estimate, then measure and iterate. Understanding constraints is empowering, not limiting. It's like engineering vs. magic. An engineer knows: "I can't violate gravity, so how do I design a plane that works within that constraint?" Studies aerodynamics, materials, fuel efficiency. Builds something that actually flies. Once you know the thermodynamic outcome you need, you can optimize at each level. Physics → Chemistry → Biology → Psychology → Sociology Physics level: Need -500 kcal/day deficit for 1 lb/week loss (a starting prior, not a law.) ↓ Now optimize biology: Biology level: - High protein to preserve muscle - Adequate fat for hormones - Fiber for satiety and gut health - Training that maintains strength ↓ Now optimize psychology: Psychology level: - Food choices you enjoy - Meal timing that controls hunger - Diet breaks to manage adaptation - Social strategies for adherence ↓ Now optimize sociology: Sociology level: - Meal prep systems - Social support - Environmental design (don't keep tempting foods around) Each level respects the constraints above while optimizing within its domain. The people denying the constraint think they're being sophisticated. They're actually being naive. Most of those who are struggling value body composition over function. But those who understand that body composition is a byproduct of function are much harder to fool. The performance mindset has built-in reality checks. When function is primary: - Did my lifts go up? - Did my sprint time improve? - Can I recover between training sessions? The barbell doesn't lie. The stopwatch doesn't care about your diet tribe. If you try some fad diet that tanks your glycogen and you can't complete your workout, you get immediate, honest feedback. You can't rationalize your way out of a failed lift or a slower time. When body composition is primary: - Did I lose weight this week? - Do I look leaner in this lighting? - What does the scale say? - Does this diet sound revolutionary? Scale weight fluctuates 2-5 lbs daily from water, glycogen, digestion. You can manipulate it with dehydration. You can convince yourself you look different. The feedback is delayed, noisy, and easy to misinterpret. Performance-focused people respect constraints. They're forced to think strategically within thermodynamic AND physiological constraints. Energy availability: - Too little food → can't recover, performance suffers - Too much food → excess fat gain, performance may suffer - They find the sweet spot through trial and experimentation Nutrient timing: - Carbs around training → better performance - Protein distributed throughout day → better muscle protein synthesis - These aren't magic, they're optimization within constraints Recovery: - You can't "willpower" your way out of inadequate recovery - Sleep, nutrition, stress management actually matter - The workout is the stimulus; adaptation happens during recovery The Aesthetic-First Trap is the desperate chase for quick results. - Lose 20 lbs in 2 weeks! - More vulnerable to extreme approaches - Ignore warning signs (fatigue, weakness, irritability) No objective feedback loop: - If you feel terrible but the scale drops, is it working? - If you're weak and tired but look "shredded," is it success? - Easy to rationalize poor outcomes Diet hopping: - When results slow (as they must), blame the diet - Jump to the next magic solution - Never build understanding of what actually works Let's look at an example. Aesthetic-focused person tries keto: - I lost 7 lbs in the first week! It's magic! - (It's mostly water and glycogen) - But I feel terrible and can't think straight. - That's just 'keto flu,' push through! - Continues despite dysfunction. Performance-focused person tries keto: - I lost some scale weight but my squat dropped 15%. - My conditioning work is terrible. - I can't recover between sessions. - This isn't working for my goals, adjusting approach. - Makes evidence-based changes. When body composition is a byproduct of function, you're optimizing for: - Strength - Power - Endurance - Recovery - Health - Longevity - Quality of life These all require: - Adequate nutrition (can't starve yourself) - Quality food (performance demands it) - Proper recovery (function depends on it) - Sustainable practices (consistency is key) And guess what? When you optimize for function, body composition tends to take care of itself. You naturally arrive at a healthy body fat percentage because: - You're fueling performance appropriately. - You're building muscle through progressive overload. - You're recovering properly. - You're avoiding extremes. Performance-focused population can't afford to be fooled: - Poor nutrition → poor performance → immediate consequences - Competition, training partners, objective metrics keep you honest - You're playing a positive-sum game (better performance) not zero-sum (smaller number on scale)

We’re working on our very first paid product, and it’s a monster. Imagine all the powerful stuff we’ve built and made free; this one’s truly a monster!

Weak legs were one of the reason for the lower back pain to develop he said, other reasons being overweight plus sudden explosive activities. But I think the root cause was i weigh above 100kgs but very active so I started walking & jogging for exercise guess those activities aided in the already weakened lower back. And dam i was ₹ucked took me 8-9 months to heal naturally 😅

My X account is kind of shadow-banned, so most of you will probably never see this tweet. But for those who do, and who are struggling with not knowing who you are, why you're here, your purpose in life, or where to go from here, here's something that can help you. Pick three words from this list. Just three. Then build your next chapter around them: pleasure, money, impact, mastery, connection, adventure, power, legacy, freedom But understand this: whatever you choose, you own. You don't get to blame your circumstances, your past, or anyone else for where those three words take you. Own the sacrifices that come with it. You don't need to have it all figured out. You just need three directions that feel true, and the spine to be accountable for them. Everything else becomes easier once you know what you're walking toward.