Lift Free And Diet Hard with Andrew Coates #417 Austin Current - Does “Optimal” Matter In Training and Lifestyle?
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Nov 18, 2025 Austin Current, an exercise scientist and author of The Science of Strength Training, dives into the complexities of training and the chase for 'optimal'. He emphasizes the value of keeping promises to build self-belief and introduces the concept of viewing efforts as a dial rather than a switch. Austin debates the 'good enough' threshold in fitness, critiques the online wars over perfect techniques, and discusses the relevance of fatigue management. He also explores when two-a-day training sessions can be beneficial, offering practical insights for everyday fitness.
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Returning To In-Person Training Changed Bandwidth
- Austin returned to in-person training two days a week and found it consumed two full workdays.
- That change forced him to reassess commitments and bandwidth versus earlier unlimited time.
Use The Fitness Dimmer, Not A Switch
- Treat fitness effort like a dimmer switch instead of an on/off light.
- Austin advises keeping consistent, smaller efforts that compound over time toward goals.
Good Enough Beats Chasing Short-Term Optimal
- Most training and life choices sit on an inverted-U Goldilocks curve of diminishing returns.
- Austin argues 'good enough' thresholds often beat chasing short-term optimal tweaks.
