Health Optimization Limits Joy

Will Ahmed shares his perspective on balancing health optimization with life enjoyment, particularly as the CEO of a health monitoring company. He acknowledges the tension between peak performance and quality of life, while emphasizing the importance of sustainable health practices.

Key Points:

• Building a Successful Company:

  • Requires overcoming stress levels "that would break most people"
  • Need techniques to maintain a "breakneck pace" for extended periods
  • It's not just a marathon - it's "sprinting a marathon for a long time"

• Personal Health Philosophy:

  • Being in good shape is "part of the job" as a health tech CEO
  • Maintains Mediterranean-style diet with 3 meals daily
  • Focuses on eating "right things" rather than counting calories
  • Drinks mostly water and coffee, avoids liquid calories

• Balance and Optimization:

  • Still optimizing life "more to be a CEO than a human"
  • Chooses 7-7.5 hours of sleep instead of optimal 8-9 hours
  • Uses technology (like blue light blocking glasses) to maximize sleep quality within constraints
  • Believes in finding techniques that allow high performance without sacrificing all joy

• Sleep Approach:

  • Focuses on quality over quantity
  • Aims for 3-4 hours of REM and slow-wave sleep within 7-hour window
  • Uses practical hacks to maintain sleep quality while managing business demands

• View on Extreme Health Optimization:

  • Acknowledges that making health seem "soulless" creates rebellion against it
  • Believes in measuring body metrics passively to improve life
  • Supports finding balance between discipline and enjoyment

The core message is about finding sustainable ways to maintain high performance while not completely sacrificing life's pleasures, acknowledging that some compromise is necessary when building a successful company.