How training makes you wealthier

The same habits that build a strong body also build a strong financial future. They compound the same way wealth does: slowly at first, then all at once.

My name isSaj, founder ofSALIENTS®, a men’s health brand focused on restoring men’s vitality. And in this article, I’ll show you why physical health is not just about aesthetics, it’s an economic asset. It drives better decisions, increases productivity, and gives you more time to earn and invest especially as everything around us gets more expensive, uncertain, and unstable.

1. The Modern Male Paradox

The modern man is being hit from both sides:

• Rising expectations from society.
  
  

• Shrinking resources and shrinking ability to acquire them.
  
  

Forty-three percent of men say that changing gender roles haven’t improved their lives. Only thirty-six percent think those changes helped their careers. More is being asked of men, but fewer rewards are showing up.

Economic stress is now the number one source of anxiety for men overtaking health itself. Think about that: men are more worried about money than their own bodies.

And with wages in many developed countries still below pre-pandemic levels, combined with major currencies losing up to 87% of their gold value since 2007, the system is designed to drain your purchasing power while piling on responsibilities.

2. Biology Under Siege

Since 1973, sperm counts have dropped by more than 50%, and the decline has accelerated since 2000. Testosterone is also falling at about 1% per year even after adjusting for age.

Low testosterone means low drive: fatigue, brain fog, indecision, and a loss of resilience. And if your hormones are shot, staying focused, disciplined, and optimistic becomes ten times harder.

The foundation of wealth-building is consistency, persistence, and long-term thinking. You can’t win in the external world if your internal engine is failing.

3. What Lifting Taught Me About Money

I know the consequences of ignoring my body too well.

First, I herniated two spinal discs. Then, I tore my hip labrum. Years of poor form, poor recovery, and relentless stress finally caught up with me. Physiotherapists patched some of the symptoms, but I realised their incentives weren’t always to solve the problem, but to keep me as a lifelong customer.

So I had to master my own body. I rebuilt myself from the ground up. That process taught me the value of patience, discipline, and long-term progress.

But the real wake-up call came in 2021 withBell’s Palsy. Out of nowhere, half my face became paralysed. For nearly two months, I couldn’t smile properly or even eat comfortably. Doctors told me the only way to recover was to stop everything, rest and de-stress.

And in those months, one truth became painfully clear:

👉 If your health is gone, your ability to provide is gone with it.

As men, our strength comes from our ability to access and provide resources. If we can’t earn, we can’t lead or support others. That experience forced me to take health seriously.

When I came back, my training became smarter. My habits became more intentional. I started treating my body like an investment portfolio for strength, longevity and quality of life. 

Because when you’re strong, focused, and calm under pressure, you show up like a man built for this century. And that reflects in your work, your relationships, and your bank balance.

4. Health: The Ultimate Inflation Hedge

When everything around you is unstable, with volatile prices, currencies, politics, your body is the one asset you still control.

Health pays dividends across every domain:

• Productivity Dividend – A fit brain and body mean more energy, sharper focus, and consistent progress.
  
  

• Cost-Savings Dividend – Avoid disease and you avoid crippling medical bills and wasted time.
  
  

• Longevity Dividend – Stay strong into your 40s, 50s, 60s, and keep earning, creating, and mentoring.
  
  

• Opportunity Dividend – With more energy, you can say yes to late nights, last-minute opportunities, and side hustles.
  
  

Compare that to a man who is burnt out, overweight, or chronically fatigued. His days are shorter, his output is lower, his stress is higher. That’s a financial anchor.

Health is one of the best inflation hedges no one talks about.

5. The Five Habits That Pay Dividends

So what habits actually compound both health and wealth? Here are five:

1. Resistance Training – Increases testosterone, improves insulin sensitivity, strengthens joints, and builds posture. It teaches you the value of long-term, consistent wins.
   
   

2. Sleep Hygiene – Testosterone peaks in deep sleep. Less than six hours can cut your levels by 15% the next day. Treat sleep like a performance drug.
   
   

3. Whole-Food Nutrition – Fuel your body with real food. Ultra-processed sludge won’t build a high-performing system.
   
   

4. Stress Management – Cortisol wrecks testosterone and judgment. Use breathwork, nature walks, and unplugged time to keep calm under pressure.
   
   

5. Sunlight & Micronutrients – Vitamin D is critical for testosterone and mood. Most men are deficient. Get sunlight or supplement. You can also experiment withATHANASE®, a herbal blend I developed containing Maca Root, Ashwagandha, Guarana, Fenugreek, and Ginger.

You don’t need perfection. Just start with the weakest link and build it up. The returns compound quickly.

6. Redefining the Provider Archetype

Being a provider used to mean putting food on the table. Today, that’s not enough.

• Metabolic solvency – You’re not a financial liability because of preventable health problems.
  
  

• Emotional liquidity – You stay calm and rational in crises.
  
  

• Longevity alpha – You remain present for decades, mentoring, guiding, and building.
  
  

In 2025, businesses collapse overnight and currencies devalue weekly. But your body is the one asset no one can dilute. Treat it like gold. Build it. Reinforce it. Reinvest its dividends.

Final Call to Action

Look at the five habits above. Pick the one where you’re weakest and fix it. Don’t wait for burnout or a health scare to force your hand.

When your body is strong, your mind is clear, and your energy is high, you make better choices, earn more, and suffer less.

Working out won’t make you rich overnight. But it will make you unstoppable in the long run. And in this world, that’s priceless.