Inner Circle Registration Open Now!
Thank you to everyone who has signed up for Inner Circle 2025 so far! This is a community of midlife men committed to next year being their best year. We kick things off in January with our first video call, and then we’re rolling with retreats, challenges, monthly AMAs, in-person meet-ups and 12 live online events with subject matter experts on the topics that matter most to us. Interested? Check out all the Inner Circle has to offer here!
HOW I SEE IT: Jacob Zemer on How to Reclaim Your Fitness for Good
Many people claim to have a “no BS approach”—I even used it in the title of my book. When you visit Jacob Zemer’s website, the first thing you’ll see is an imposing figure: a shirtless man with a sledgehammer across his shoulder and the words “No BS Approach” underneath. As you read his story and get to know Jacob, both professionally as a trainer and as a human being, as I have, you realize this is someone who not only talks the talk but walks it. He’s one of the few people in the industry who truly lives his message and shoots straight—no BS.
He’s become the go-to guy for accomplished middle-aged men who want to reclaim their fitness, but even more so, he provides a springboard to getting their entire lives back. It starts with fitness: you see results, it becomes a lifestyle, you get hooked, and you want more. Family, fitness, finance, food, fashion, and fun—it all comes together. Sound familiar? This is why I like Jacob.
Need a Botox recommendation? Hair transplant advice, Invisalign tips, blood work, a jeweler, a dentist, or wardrobe assistance? Ask Jacob (or me…). This is what we do. This is what we love.
I first met Jacob at an event in Denver, where he was both a speaker and participant. Physically, he’s an imposing presence—standing over six feet tall and weighing around 250 pounds. What I admire deeply about Jacob in this world of influencers and posers is his incredible transparency about his body and training.
What struck me most at the event was how he stayed true to himself—participating in activities that aligned with his values and opting out of those that didn’t. He never succumbed to the pressure of conforming to what a “high lifestyle” should look like. Here was someone secure enough in himself to make his own decisions.
As we often discuss, there’s always something you’re not seeing in someone else’s life. Maybe they’re dealing with an injury, were up at 5 AM training clients virtually, or have to catch an early flight back to New York the next day to meet with clients.
You never know the full story.
Jacob’s credentials as a top performance coach are impressive. He holds 12 national certifications. With over 20 years of experience in the fitness industry, Jacob logs more than 3,200 hours each year working with a wide range of clients, from CEOs and everyday fitness enthusiasts to ex-professional athletes. He specializes in in-person training in the Westchester area and offers virtual coaching through his online training program. Over the years, I’ve recommended numerous clients to Jacob, and the results have consistently been excellent.
As we kick off the New Year, I couldn’t think of a better person to discuss how to start the year right and, more importantly, how to consistently hit your goals and make health and fitness a lifestyle.
How I See It with Jacob Zemer
MLM: Jacob, we’ve shared some unique experiences, like walking into the freezing Atlantic Ocean at 5 AM for a Navy SEAL activation. How have you been since then?
Jacob Zemer: Thanks for having me! I’ve been doing great since then. I’ve had some time to warm up, stretch out, and recover—it was a lot of fun. Experiences like that really highlight the value of connection through health, wellness, and performance, which is something I’m passionate about.
MLM: Your coaching business focuses on weight loss and body transformation. What role do connection and community play in achieving those goals?
Jacob Zemer: Connection and community are incredibly important. Even though my coaching is very goal-oriented and specific, I’ve noticed how a sense of camaraderie develops among my clients, especially in semi-private groups. For example, I often group four men with similar career paths—one might be in construction, another in real estate management—and they end up forming bonds as they push through challenges together. It’s similar to what we experienced in the ocean. Shared struggle creates connection, whether it’s in the gym or in life.
MLM: Many men know they need to make a change—maybe they’re overworked, sedentary, or in unhealthy routines—but they don’t know how to start. How do you guide clients through that transition?
Jacob Zemer: It starts with being realistic and honest about where you’re at. Take one of my clients, for example—he came to me at 262 pounds, and after 262 days, he’s down to 194 pounds. That’s 70 pounds in nine months. He’s made amazing progress, but it didn’t happen overnight.
The challenge is often information overload. There’s so much fitness content out there—podcasts, social media, programs—that it’s hard to discern what’s accurate. I tell my clients that starting a fitness journey is like learning a new language. You need a foundational understanding to distinguish between good and bad information. My job is to simplify that and give them a clear, actionable path forward.
MLM: What should someone look for when choosing a coach or program?
Jacob Zemer: First, be introspective. Understand your own needs and goals. Then, look for a coach who demonstrates integrity, experience, and professionalism. Watch how they live their own life and evaluate their expertise. Are they someone whose values align with yours?
Credentials and experience are also critical. But more importantly, their program needs to fit your unique circumstances. For example, if someone promises you’ll gain 12 pounds of muscle in three weeks, that’s unrealistic. Transformation takes time. It’s about consistent, incremental progress.
MLM: You emphasize the importance of setting realistic expectations. Can you share more about what that looks like in practice?
Jacob Zemer: Absolutely. It’s about understanding where you are and where you want to go. For instance, if a client wants visible abs, we calculate their current body fat percentage and create a realistic timeline. Let’s say they’re at 20% body fat and need to get down to 8%—that’s a journey of several months to a year, not weeks. It’s the same principle as building a career or a relationship. Big, lasting changes happen through small, consistent steps.
MLM: What’s your best advice for someone starting their fitness journey?
Jacob Zemer: Keep it simple and focus on consistency. Start by building your diet around lean proteins, vegetables, fruits, healthy fats, and complex carbs. Treat your diet like a budget—plan for your essentials and leave room for small indulgences.
For fitness, find a program that fits your lifestyle and stick to it. Remember, it’s a journey, not a quick fix. Celebrate small wins along the way, and trust the process.
MLM: Let’s stay on the topic of the journey versus the destination. It’s powerful to hear how transformative the journey can be, not just physically, but mentally. How do you help clients embrace this process?
Jacob Zemer: It’s essential to remember that you don’t know where anyone started. Comparing yourself to others is one of the biggest traps people fall into. I had a client, Mark, who started at 230 pounds. Now he’s 185, lifting weights, running 10 miles, and feeling like a completely different person. The key isn’t just the physical transformation—it’s how he views himself.
Your mindset shifts when you prioritize health. When you train well, eat well, and recover well, you show up better in every area of life. You become more confident, attract the right people, and repel the wrong ones. That’s why I encourage clients to focus on the journey. Small wins along the way build momentum and make the process sustainable.
MLM: You’ve mentioned that integrity and professionalism are core to your success. Can you elaborate on what makes these qualities so crucial in your work?
Andropause: The #1 Word Midlife Men Need to Know in 2025
Let me tell you something that blew my mind recently. At 52, after decades of obsessing over health and fitness, working with top doctors, trainers, and nutritionists, I just learned there’s a name for what I’ve been experiencing: Andropause. Yeah, you read that right. Male menopause is a real thing, and somehow nobody’s talking about it.
Here’s what’s crazy – I’m the guy who digs deep into health research. I’m the one friends come to for advice about getting fit and staying sharp. Yet here I was, dealing with symptoms I couldn’t quite pin down, thinking maybe I was just losing my edge. The fatigue that coffee couldn’t fix. The workouts that stopped delivering the same results. The mental fog that rolled in despite my meditation practice. The mood swings that had my wife and dogs looking at me sideways.
And you know what’s even crazier? Not one of my healthcare providers – not my GP, not my endocrinologist, not even my forward-thinking functional medicine doc, not the PA that does my bloodwork every 90 days – ever mentioned the word “andropause.” Not once. They’d check testosterone levels, sure, but always in isolation, never as part of a bigger conversation about this major life transition that apparently starts hitting us as early as our 30s.
Let that sink in. While every woman on the planet knows about menopause – hell, it’s discussed everywhere from morning shows to magazine covers – we men are going through our own hormonal revolution in silence. Starting at 30, we lose about 1% of our testosterone annually. Some guys barely notice; others feel like they’re swimming upstream through molasses. I was definitely in the latter camp by my mid 40’s, and I bet many of you are too, even if you haven’t connected the dots yet.
Here’s what it looked like for me:
Millions of stories are posted online every day and 99.9% are noise. We sifted through the nonsense to find experts and thought leaders who will share deep dives in one of our 6Fs every week: Fitness. Family. Finance. Food. Fashion. Fun. These are powerful essays by our team or guest writers designed to make you think, grow and maximize your midlife starting now.
This week: FAMILY
Choppers, Rifles, Humvees & Greg’s Incredible Father-Son Warrior Weekend (Photo Essay)
Experiences with my sons are the most precious things in my life today. This past weekend, we had an incredible opportunity to spend several days with a group of elite military operators for a father-son event, alongside other dads, their sons, and a few friends. We flew into Jacksonville, rented a car, drove to Savannah, and checked into the JW Marriott Riverside Power Plant—a converted power plant turned into a stunning hotel with a museum-like lobby and multiple buildings and restaurants.
That first evening, it was just the three of us for dinner. We talked about girlfriends, breakups, the upcoming semester in Italy, the rest of senior year, and what we thought we might be in for over the next two days. These conversations, full of anticipation and connection, are the moments I truly cherish.
Starting at 8 AM Friday, we dove headfirst into an experience that pushed us far beyond our comfort zones. The weekend was transformative, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have been a part of it.
At 52, watching my sons experience these moments fills me with joy. They’re getting such a head start on opportunities, and the fact that we can share these experiences together means the world to me. We engaged in tactical pistol and rifle training, fired from a Little Bird helicopter flying a few hundred feet above the ground, shot from turrets in military Humvees, and learned to clear rooms. We even played SWAT games. The weather was perfect, and to top it off, we ate at the same property where Ben Affleck and J.Lo got married.
To be honest, I was fearful of many of these activities. While I’ve had some training, I’m far from proficient. Handling firearms, sitting on the side of a helicopter with only a seatbelt across my lap—it’s nerve-wracking. And my fear wasn’t for me; it was for my sons. Despite the thrill and the professionals ensuring safety at every step, there’s always an inherent risk.
Inner Circle Registration is OPEN!
The MLM Inner Circle is a community for midlife men, by midlife men. Our members are accomplished men over 40 looking to level-up across every area of their lives.
Some have been married for decades, others are divorced, most are fathers. All of our members seek improvement, access, insights, and support in a group of like-minded men. They are committed to making the next phase of their lives, the best phase of their lives, living happier, healthier, wealthier, stronger and having more fun in business and in life.
2025 registration is open now, and we start next month! We’re limiting access to ensure the best possible experience for our members. Click the link below to find out if the MLM Inner Circle is right for you.
