Ted Ryce: 5 health mistakes entrepreneurs keep making?

Health expert Ted Ryce shares his journey from personal tragedy to coaching high-performers like Robert Downey Jr. and Richard Branson. As a seasoned trainer with over 25 years in the field, Ryce reveals how entrepreneurs often sabotage their well-being amid the grind of building businesses. Drawing from his own setbacks—like ballooning to 24% body fat at age 36—Ryce outlines five critical health mistakes entrepreneurs make and practical steps to overcome them. Whether you're a first-generation business owner juggling family expectations or a mid-career professional pivoting industries, these insights can help you reclaim energy and focus for sustainable success.

Mistake 1: Ignoring Data in Your Health Journey

Entrepreneurs thrive on metrics in business, yet many overlook them in personal health. Ryce emphasizes that self-perceptions like "I eat pretty healthy" often mask underlying issues. "Health is not the story you tell yourself, it's the data," he says. For instance, elevated body fat, high blood pressure, or poor cholesterol levels signal problems, regardless of trendy superfoods in your diet.

To fix this, become data-driven. Get regular body fat scans like DEXA or blood work to track progress. This approach aligns with standards for optimal health in 2025, where metabolic markers define true wellness. Consider how a young professional starting a tech venture might assume gym time suffices, only to find insulin resistance creeping in—affecting about 1 in 3 U.S. adults. Reflect: What health data have you checked lately?

Mistake 2: Overlooking Fat Loss as a Health Priority

Many high-achievers dismiss aesthetics, claiming they prioritize "health over abs." But Ryce counters: "Fat loss equals health." Excess fat isn't just cosmetic; it's a metabolic red flag leading to insulin resistance, pre-diabetes, and conditions like non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which affects around 25-30% of U.S. adults. This buildup in organs like the liver disrupts overall function and heightens chronic disease risk.

Ryce advises setting tangible goals, like reducing scale weight if you carry extra belly fat, while building lean muscle. For diverse entrepreneurs—say, a global remote worker facing travel-induced weight gain—pair this with balanced nutrition. A hypothetical scenario: An underrepresented founder in a high-stress industry ignores gradual weight creep, only to face energy crashes. Challenge yourself: Track your waistline this week and adjust one meal for better metabolic health.

Mistake 3: Skipping Consistent Exercise

Inconsistent workouts are a trap for busy professionals. Ryce likens exercise to weekly work commitments: essential for long-term payoff. "You need to make investments in your muscles and cardiovascular system via exercise so that you are able to live the type of life that you want," he explains. Without it, muscle loss accelerates with age, leading to frailty—think needing a cane not from injury, but neglect.

Prioritize resistance training to combat this, as it preserves muscle mass, boosts bone density, and reduces chronic disease risks. Benefits include improved balance and vitality, crucial for aging entrepreneurs aiming to travel or stay active in their 70s. For a mid-career switcher from corporate to startup life, integrate short sessions weekly. Ask yourself: Are you investing in your future mobility today?

Mistake 4: Sacrificing Sleep for Productivity

Sleep often falls victim to the hustle mentality. Ryce notes that skimping below 6.5-7 hours impairs memory, heightens junk food cravings, and even causes muscle loss. Studies show sleep-deprived individuals consume about 300 extra calories daily, fueling metabolic issues like insulin resistance and obesity.

From his Miami party days, Ryce learned balance: Optimize your environment with blackout blinds, a cool room (try devices like the Eight Sleep), and soundproofing. For first-generation entrepreneurs managing family and business, poor sleep exacerbates stress. Prompt: Experiment with one sleep hack this week—how does it impact your focus?

Mistake 5: Neglecting Emotional Health

Physical fixes only go so far if emotions are ignored. Ryce shares his post-tragedy recovery: "I couldn't build more muscle and get more of an ROI emotionally." Workaholism, toxic relationships, or peer influences often drive unhealthy habits like overdrinking.

Address roots—perhaps therapy or reevaluating social circles. Ryce warns that marrying poorly or avoiding marital issues can devastate health. For diverse backgrounds, like global perspectives where cultural pressures add layers, emotional check-ins are key. A scenario: A young professional numbs startup anxiety with late nights, risking burnout. Engage: Journal one emotional trigger affecting your habits.

Key Takeaways and Next Steps

Avoiding these health mistakes entrepreneurs make—ignoring data, undervaluing fat loss, skipping exercise, skimping on sleep, and neglecting emotions—unlocks peak performance. As Ryce proves, blending physical and emotional strategies leads to thriving, even after setbacks.

Apply one insight today: Schedule a health scan or resistance session and join in Ted's FREE 30-MINUTE MASTERCLASS: For Successful Men Who Are Done Looking & Feeling Old...

Ready to level up? Create a personal challenge: Track sleep and exercise for 30 days.