I've Been Gatekeeping My Fitness Routine

Trigger warning: I’ve never been fat, let me just start with that. It’s probably a mix of genetics, being active since I was a literal toddler, and playing sports throughout my teen years that conditioned my body to stay in somewhat decent shape over time. And I coasted on those things for YEARS. Then, in the second half of 2020, when I, like so many of us, saw my body grow softer due to the midday wine, cheese, and spontaneous cocktails I found myself indulging in during COVID, I decided to make a HUGE change.

Rewind for a second. I remember in 2016 I went to the gym a lot, but I didn’t really know what I was doing re: training different muscle groups. Instead, I used machines I thought looked interesting, or that I knew would give me vanity muscles. But as I found out through acquiring different injuries, vanity muscles don’t really work if you don’t have a solid foundation first. Oops.

So, my big change in 2020 came when I signed up with an online trainer. I stuck with him for about 3 months and saw some decent results (a lot of it was him holding me accountable). But it was also around that time that my brother, Sean Langan, was getting his PhD in Exercise Science. Sean is also a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist AND a Certified Athletic Trainer. When I realized how well qualified he was to get me in shape and how aligned our methodologies were around fitness, I had an idea. So I fired my online trainer.

My plan? Partner with Sean and use my existing lifestyle brand, Hamptons to Hollywood, as a platform to launch the Hamptons to Hollywood Fitness Program (HHFP).

Sean has always been obsessed — sometimes annoying so — with being active. Ever since he was a kid. If we’re on vacation, forget about it. Lying around be damned! Sean will make me go on a 6 mile run at 8am, AND THEN a 10 mile bike ride at 3pm. But, his modality is one I ultimately love and agree with: staying fit to improve one’s healthspan. While lifespan measures the total number of years lived, healthspan captures the quality and vitality of those years. Yes, I still want my vanity muscles, but I also want to be able to swim and play tennis in Montauk with my friends when I’m 80. And the Hamptons to Hollywood Fitness Program takes the healthspan approach.

Using his expertise (it’s almost scary how smart he is when it comes to the science of human performance), Sean creates customized fitness plans for me, and our clients, to help us develop strength, flexibility, lose weight, and gain lean muscle that optimizes health and creates the kind of physique you’d see on the Hamptons or LA beaches.

Not only has Sean been training me for half a decade now, but he’s also trained competitive marathon runners, and even helped one client lower her A1C out of the pre-diabetes range. He’s currently the Head of Human Performance at VO Health and formerly conducted human performance research for the U.S. Army.

My favorite part is that the workouts are customized each week. While HHFP is incredible for training athletes (and aspiring ones), or those who’re just starting out, each week a different customized workout is sent to you — via an app — that meets you where you are, while pushing you to where you want to go. It builds a foundation on which to build. And even if some weeks seem less intense than others, it’s normal. I’ve learned that results compound over time.

Look, I’m not one to hock random products or programs, but the HHFP has really worked for me. I’m literally living proof that if you are consistent and put in the effort, you will absolutely change your body. And if you don’t wanna take it from me, just know that our first client joined HHFP 4 years ago — and is still a client. Because it actually works. Check out my before and afters:

Because I’m so in love with my Substack community these days, I’m offering my readers 25% OFF their enrollment! To start, HHFP asks for a 3-month commitment, and after that, it’s month-to-month.

If you’re interested in trying it out, it’s super easy. Send me a message and together we’ll jump on a free call with Sean, who’ll be your trainer, to figure out your goals and how we can make it work.

Talk soon!

My Friend, Jon

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Jul 23

They say you should write what you know. What I know is that my best friend of nearly 15 years suffered a massive stroke 4 days ago and I’ve been in the hospital with him every day since. His name is Jon.

The Shoelace Theory

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May 14

I’ve been thinking a lot about self-esteem lately, mostly because there is a short story centered completely around it in my new book. I’ve been thinking about how self-esteem — like many things, in my opinion — is directly shaped in childhood. I know, right, I’m so Freudian.