In this powerful and deeply personal conversation, Darin sits down with Hagen Thiers to unpack one of the most misunderstood journeys in health: why doing "everything right" still doesn't always work — and how true transformation requires decoding the body's survival signals, not fighting them.
Hagen shares his remarkable physical transformation after decades of extreme metabolic adaptation, chronic gut inflammation, and stress-driven physiology. Together, they explore metabolism, inflammation, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, protein intake, discipline, and why sustainable health is built through patience, self-leadership, and listening to the body's intelligence.
Why extreme dieting and endurance stress can permanently slow metabolism
How survival adaptation can block fat loss despite "perfect" habits
The overlooked role of gut inflammation in weight retention
Why fat is a protective organ, not just stored energy
How leptin signaling and inflammation dictate fat loss resistance
The difference between calorie math and biological reality
Why healing must precede weight loss for many people
How protein intake preserves muscle during fat loss
Why discipline beats motivation every time
The role of hyperbaric oxygen in reducing inflammation and restoring function
How oxygen delivery impacts fat tissue, gut health, and recovery
Why consistency over months—not hacks—creates lasting change
How physical freedom directly impacts happiness and life quality
Chapters
00:00:03 – Welcome to SuperLife and the mission of sovereignty and health
00:00:32 – Sponsor: Fatty15 and cellular health
00:04:14 – Introducing Hagen Thiers
00:09:43 – Hagen's transformation and why this conversation matters
00:11:26 – Doing everything right but still being stuck
00:13:28 – Discovering severe metabolic suppression
00:14:54 – Extreme endurance, starvation adaptation, and survival metabolism
00:17:04 – Why chronic calorie restriction backfires
00:20:56 – Gut inflammation as the real barrier to fat loss
00:22:41 – Healing before weight loss
00:23:26 – Fiber diversity, probiotics, and microbiome repair
00:24:30 – Enter hyperbaric oxygen therapy
00:27:57 – Why calories in / calories out breaks down
00:30:30 – Stress, inflammation, and metabolic shutdown
00:31:53 – Protein requirements and muscle preservation
00:35:47 – Discipline as a long-term lifestyle
00:38:54 – Eating frequency and metabolic signaling
00:43:39 – How hyperbaric oxygen works
00:47:31 – Why results accelerate after consistency
00:50:23 – 170 lbs lost and metabolic breakthrough
00:54:32 – Oxygen quality and chamber safety
00:58:22 – Breathwork vs hyperbaric oxygen
01:03:40 – Building an internal healing environment
01:05:05 – Life after transformation
01:06:42 – Discipline, the gym, and honest feedback
01:09:26 – Health as freedom, not restriction
01:11:39 – Inflammation as the missing piece for most people
01:12:45 – Closing reflections and hope for listeners
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Podcast: SuperLife Podcast
Website: superlife.com
Book: Fatal Conveniences
Key Takeaway
True health isn't about forcing the body to change — it's about creating the conditions where the body finally feels safe enough to let go.
