America Has Become a Society of Shortcuts—And It’s Costing Us More Than We Realize

These days, everything has to be fast. Instant gratification isn’t just a preference, it’s an expectation. Our attention spans are shorter than ever, thanks to smartphones doing the thinking for us and endless streams of clipped, hyper-edited content keeping us hooked on quick hits of dopamine. But what worries me most is how this impatience has spilled over into health and fitness, where people are now turning to shortcuts instead of putting in the work.  

Two of the biggest trends right now? Using prescription medication to suppress appetite for weight loss and relying on performance-enhancing drugs to shortcut muscle growth. On the surface, it might seem like a hack, why grind for months or years when you can get "results" in weeks? But the truth is, these shortcuts come with a cost, both to your long-term health and to the satisfaction of earning progress the right way.  

At 54, I’m building my physique from scratch, naturally. It’s slow. It’s tedious. Some days, it feels like progress is invisible. But I’d rather take the long road because I know the results will be real, sustainable, and mine. When you rely on shortcuts, you’re not just risking your health, you’re robbing yourself of the discipline, resilience, and pride that come from doing things the right way.  

Weight loss drugs? Starving yourself because a medication kills your appetite isn’t "healthy weight loss." Even if you’re lifting weights, depriving your body of proper nutrition teaches it the wrong lessons, and the long-term consequences will catch up.  

Performance enhancers? Sure, you’ll grow faster, but at what cost? Your body has natural limits for a reason, and forcing it beyond them with chemicals isn’t strength. It’s a gamble with your health.  

The real issue? We’ve become so obsessed with external validation that we’d rather rush results than put in the work for ourselves. But here’s the truth: When you stop chasing shortcuts and start building for you, not for likes, not for comparisons, not for instant gratification, the pressure to rush disappears.  

The slower path isn’t just cheaper financially; it’s better for your body, your mind, and your future. So ask yourself: Do you want a quick fix that fades, or real progress that lasts?  

Patience isn’t just a virtue, it’s the foundation of real success.