Luke Elsman on Physical Recovery, Mental Health, and Why the Biggest Guys in the Gym Have the Nicest Souls
…I think mental health plays a huge role in working out because it is very therapeutic for a lot of people. Having an hour or two to play your music and let it all go is invaluable. It doesn’t necessarily have to be heavy weightlifting; you can find therapy in yoga, calisthenics, or running. Exerting yourself physically is a great way to clear your head. I didn’t realize how important it was for me until 2019, when I tore my pec and had to undergo surgery. Taking weeks off and knowing I wouldn’t regain my strength for a long time took a major toll on my mental health. Instead of giving up, I focused on what I could do. Since I couldn’t do upper body workouts, I went on walks and utilized leg machines like the leg press, hack squat, and hamstring curls. I needed that physical activity so I wouldn’t lose my mind. If you sit a lot, it is crucial to get moving, get the blood flowing, and sweat. It will always make you feel better…
I had the pleasure of talking with Luke Elsman. Elsman has carved out a unique corner of the internet. He is not just pushing heavy weights; he is pushing a brand of relatable, good-natured comedy that demystifies gym culture. Elsman’s journey into the world of fitness began underground — literally. Born and raised in New Jersey with Puerto Rican and German roots, his earliest memories of fitness trace back to his childhood basement. His father was a dedicated weightlifter, more concerned with hitting personal records than sculpting a stage-ready physique. “By the time I was old enough to walk, I would hear music in the basement and didn’t know what was going on,” Elsman remembers. “Curiosity strikes, my dad opens the door, and we have a whole gym set up right by our washer and dryer. I thought it was the coolest thing in the world, like an underground classic gym.” By the time Elsman was eight or nine years old, his dad let him lift an empty bar to hit repetition records. What started as sporadic fun evolved into a daily obsession. By age sixteen, he had designed his own intensive workout split, ditching traditional high school sports to rush home and hit the weights every single day.
That relentless dedication eventually spilled over into content creation. Elsman began filming and editing his own videos, posting on YouTube and Instagram about once a week. He slowly built a modest following, catching the eye of the owner of a local gym and supplement company where he worked out. Getting a sponsorship deal of free supplements felt like a dream realized. “I was in love with the idea; getting a sponsor is everyone’s goal on social media,” he says. But as the years passed and his platforms exploded — reaching over a hundred thousand followers on TikTok — Elsman realized he needed to turn his passion into a legitimate, full-time career. This led to a harsh reality check. When he approached the gym owner to discuss actual compensation, he was met with deep discouragement. The owner, whom Elsman viewed as a father figure, told him no major brand would ever value him at the level he wanted. “It completely got in my head,” Elsman admits. “It was heartbreaking and devastating to leave the gym I loved, but it was a necessary step.”
That painful departure proved to be a vital growing experience. Elsman learned that the digital creator space requires a thick skin and a strong instinct for self-preservation. “Deep down, I’m a very loyal person and I like to think the best of people,” he notes. “But you do have to protect yourself because the world is a lot less giving than an optimistic person might expect.” Rejection soon transformed into redirection. After being repeatedly turned down by one specific fitness company he desperately wanted to work with, a competitor reached out during a period when his digital engagement was surprisingly low. That brand was Gymshark. Elsman had worn their clothes since high school. Welcomed with open arms, he grew alongside the company and is now considered one of their top athletes. “Looking back, it feels like this was always what was meant to be,” he says.
Today, his digital content focuses heavily on blending his naturally goofy personality with his athletic background. He makes it clear that he was never a stand-up comic who stumbled into a weight room. “I would say I am originally a fitness guy who is funny,” he explains. His comedic skits often target the intimidating stereotypes of modern gym culture. “Often, you see the biggest guy in the gym and feel intimidated,” he says. “The truth is that the big guys who have been lifting for 10 or 20 years are usually the nicest souls.” By filming his characters in live public gyms, he tries to show his audience that the weight room is actually a safe, welcoming place where people are eager to help each other grow.
Beyond the humor, Elsman is deeply aware of the mental health benefits of exercise. When a torn pectoral muscle required surgery in 2019, he was forced to step away from his usual routines. The inability to lift heavy weights took a massive toll on his mental state. Instead of giving up entirely, he pivoted to walking and using leg machines just to keep moving. “I needed that physical activity so I wouldn’t lose my mind,” he recalls.
Now, at twenty-eight, Elsman is focused on perfecting his craft and building a lasting brand. He advocates for simple fitness truths: stay consistent, educate yourself, drink plenty of water, and get at least seven hours of sleep. But above all, his entire journey — from a basement gym in New Jersey to millions of screens worldwide — is anchored by a singular mindset. “I do love to share a quote that I live by,” Elsman says. “You can’t lose if you never give up. Whether you want to climb Mount Everest, be the best lawyer in Los Angeles, or become a pro bodybuilder, you can’t lose if you just don’t stop.”
Yitzi: Luke, it’s so nice to meet you. Before we dive in deep, our readers would love to learn about your personal origin story. Can you share the story of your childhood, how you grew up, and the seeds for all the amazing work that has come since then?
Luke: Likewise, so nice to meet you too.I grew up in New Jersey, born and raised, and my dad was always heavily into weightlifting. Specifically weightlifting, not necessarily bodybuilding. He wasn’t really concerned about his physique, but he loved to weight train and hit PRs in the gym. At a young age, obviously, you look up to your dad and think whatever he’s doing is the coolest thing in the world. By the time I was old enough to walk, I would hear music in the basement and didn’t know what was going on. Curiosity strikes, my dad opens the door, and we have a whole gym set up right by our washer and dryer. I thought it was the coolest thing in the world, like an underground classic gym. By the time I was about eight or nine years old, my dad would allow us to lift the bar with no weight on it, and we’d try to hit rep PRs with that. I thought it was the coolest thing. It was sporadic since I was young, so I didn’t have a full routine, but I’d go in there and try to bench PR with my dad here and there. Growing up, I was not heavily into sports; I mostly just played outside with friends. I loved being active and training with my dad a few times a month. As I got older, around my sophomore or junior year in high school, I really found a love for it and started lifting with my dad every day he would lift, which was Wednesday and Sunday. I realized that wasn’t enough, so I came up with a four or five-day workout split at 16, and from then on, it’s pretty much been every single day. I loved weightlifting more than anything. I didn’t take on any sports in high school because I wanted to come home after school and go to the gym. From age 16 to 28 now, I have just been non-stop in the gym and loving the journey.
Yitzi: So please tell us about the exciting things you’re working on now, exciting projects, exciting initiatives?
Luke: Right now, I have just been trying to perfect my craft. I am continuing to grow my name and come out with the best quality YouTube videos that resonate with me and my audience. I have been creating comedic skits in the gym that have never been done before. When I first started making skits, which is what I’m known for, a lot of the ideas were completely original to me. I still want to showcase the best sides of me and make the best content I can to show what I’m capable of. It is a big goal for me this year to find something outside of myself that I can grow, like a brand of some sort. I set that goal at the beginning of the year: to figure out exactly what that is so I can go into it wholeheartedly with no doubts. I have always been the type of guy who is only really good at the stuff I enjoy. If I didn’t enjoy it or have that spark, my brain would almost reject it. Finding that thing is key, and if I can find it, it’s game over — it’s going to happen.
Yitzi: You probably have some amazing stories from different places you’ve been to and different parts of your career. I’m sure this is hard to single out, but can you share with our readers one or two stories that most stand out in your mind from your career?
Luke: Wow, that’s a tough one. Well, I rarely talk about this, but a big turning point in my career was when I was posting on Instagram and making YouTube videos about once a week. I filmed and edited my own stuff and built a small following — maybe 13,000 subscribers on YouTube and 15,000 followers on Instagram. I was working out at a local gym five to ten minutes from where I lived about five years ago. The gym also had a supplement company. Because I was there daily filming videos, posting on Instagram, and tagging the gym, the owner wanted me to be a brand ambassador. I was in love with the idea; getting a sponsor is everyone’s goal on social media, especially in the fitness world. Starting out, a clothing or supplement sponsor is the best thing you can ask for. Of course, I took his offer. I loved getting free supplements every month and featuring them in my videos. Fast forward two or three years: my name started to grow. TikTok came along, and I reached 100,000 followers there, while my Instagram grew past 20,000. I started traveling more and meeting new people in the industry who had sponsorships with larger, mainstream brands. I caught wind that I had value and could get paid. I realized that if I wanted this to be my full-time career, getting paid was the next step. I had a tough conversation with the owner, someone I had looked up to for a long time. I made a little leeway, but my name was growing quickly, and I didn’t want to lose that momentum. We had another tough conversation regarding compensation. I’m not a greedy person, but I wanted to make this my career. At the time, we were trying to settle on a collab pre-workout. I thought having my name on it was the coolest thing, but a lot of things just weren’t aligning. Eventually, I was going to have a protein drop with my face on it, but internal issues persisted. This became a major turning point because I viewed this guy almost as a father figure, and hearing his discouraging remarks was tough. He told me I would never get a brand to value me at the level I wanted. It completely got in my head. I realized I had to leave because the situation was sloppy, especially with contracts. It was heartbreaking and devastating to leave the gym I loved, but it was a necessary step. Soon after, I signed with an actual company that valued me and flew me out for photo shoots. It was much more legitimate, and I had never been treated like that before. It was a very difficult time, saying goodbye and leaving everything I knew behind, but it got me to where I am today. If I had stayed, the future would be very different. Getting through those uncomfortable conversations and seeing the light at the end of the tunnel was a huge growing experience.
Yitzi: There’s a saying that sometimes our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Do you have a story about a funny mistake that you made when you were first starting your content creation and the lesson that you took away from it?
Luke: A lesson from a mistake I made early in my career… I think that a lot of times you have to look out for yourself. Deep down, I’m a very loyal person and I like to think the best of people. I don’t want this to be a negative message, but you do have to protect yourself because the world is a lot less giving than an optimistic person might expect. People are ultimately looking out for themselves, and you have to do the same. Be a good person, help when you can, and remain loyal. I have always been loyal to the best of my abilities. However, the situation from my previous story ended up biting me in the back. Always have good morals and good intent, but don’t forget to watch your back because not everyone has it.
Yitzi: There’s another saying that no is not a rejection but a redirection. Do you have a story like that where you got a no to an opportunity but that led to an unexpected success or opportunity or a blessing?
Luke: I have one. This wasn’t necessarily a quick switch; it happened over a two to three-year stretch. When starting my fitness journey, I was still lifting at that first gym. There was a specific company I wanted to work with, but I was continuously rejected by them. After multiple rejections, a competitor brand actually reached out to me. At first, I wasn’t thrilled, but I obviously took the opportunity because I was new and it would have been foolish not to. The brand was Gymshark, which I am wearing right now. They reached out during a time when my engagement was very low. It felt like a full circle moment because I used to wear their clothes in high school, and suddenly they were in my DMs asking to work with me. Because they welcomed me with open arms, I was able to grow from a small audience. I grew with the company, and today I am considered one of their top athletes. That would have never happened if I hadn’t been rejected over and over again by the other brand. It wasn’t that I loved one brand more than the other back in 2019; it was just what I thought I wanted at the time. I stuck with Gymshark because I like to be loyal. We grew together, and now I have great relationships with their team, athletes, and video guys. I love the brand and have been wearing it since I was 16, before it was worldwide known. Looking back, it feels like this was always what was meant to be. I couldn’t be happier about my decision to stay with them. Getting those initial rejections led me right to Gymshark, and the rest is history. I have been with them for four years now and am blessed to be in this position.
Yitzi: What’s been the most challenging project or role you’ve taken on so far, and why?
Luke: I think the most challenging part is the creative aspect. A lot of my content comes from my personal comedy and merging that with relatable fitness topics. The challenge is consistently being creative and coming up with fresh, new concepts and jokes while evolving the content. Social media moves at a million miles an hour. You have to keep up with trends and understand what people find funny, as humor comes and goes. Staying consistent with creativity and finding brand new perspectives is definitely the most challenging. Besides that, just finding a general life balance has been a challenge, but I can’t complain. It’s been a beautiful ride.
Yitzi: What’s the most common fitness myth that you see on TikTok or social media that you feel that your comedy helps to debunk?
Luke: That’s a good one. I recently did a video about this. Often, you see the biggest guy in the gym and feel intimidated. You think he must be super serious and unapproachable. The truth is that the big guys who have been lifting for 10 or 20 years are usually the nicest souls. They might be tired after a long day at work and just want to dial in, but there is nothing to be intimidated by. The people who have the most success in the gym are the ones who aren’t judging; they actually want to help the most because they have the experience. They love it when someone authentically asks for real gym advice regarding diet, training, or technique. People just starting out are probably the grumpier ones. For those who don’t know gym culture, they might assume the buff guys are mean and unwelcoming. However, the gym is a friendly, safe place where nobody is there to judge. A lot of people are just as confused as you are. It is an environment of love and a place to help each other grow, learn, and lift. I try to showcase that in my videos, which is why I film at a live, public gym rather than a private one. I follow gym etiquette, stay out of people’s way, and improvise if someone needs a machine. Ultimately, I just want to show that I can film a goofy character and nobody really cares as long as you’re respectful.
Yitzi: Do you see yourself primarily as a fitness expert who’s funny, or as a funny person, a comedian who’s into fitness?
Luke: I would say I am originally a fitness guy who is funny. When I started, it was all about fitness, weightlifting, breaking PRs, and getting stronger. Deep down, I have always been a goofy guy. My younger brother is my best friend, and we are always cracking jokes and laughing together. Once I found a way to showcase that on camera, I merged the two. Fitness was my origin and my passion, so I am definitely a fitness guy first. I was not a comedian before I got into fitness.
Yitzi: What role do you believe mental health plays in with physical fitness, and how do you address that in your teaching?
Luke: I think mental health plays a huge role in working out because it is very therapeutic for a lot of people. Having an hour or two to play your music and let it all go is invaluable. It doesn’t necessarily have to be heavy weightlifting; you can find therapy in yoga, calisthenics, or running. Exerting yourself physically is a great way to clear your head. I didn’t realize how important it was for me until 2019, when I tore my pec and had to undergo surgery. Taking weeks off and knowing I wouldn’t regain my strength for a long time took a major toll on my mental health. Instead of giving up, I focused on what I could do. Since I couldn’t do upper body workouts, I went on walks and utilized leg machines like the leg press, hack squat, and hamstring curls. I needed that physical activity so I wouldn’t lose my mind. If you sit a lot, it is crucial to get moving, get the blood flowing, and sweat. It will always make you feel better.
Yitzi: This is our signature question at the center piece of our interview. Luke, you’re a fitness champion, a fitness expert. Can you share five things anyone can do to improve their fitness routine?
Luke:
- First and foremost, you have to be consistent. Just like anything else in life, if you aren’t showing up, you won’t make progress. Figure out the best way for you to show up consistently.
- Second, have fun. A lot of people think they need a strict regimen and meal plan before they even touch a weight. While some people like that structure, it can be intimidating and feel like work. Realistically, all you need to do is get into the gym, take those first steps, and figure out what you enjoy. If you only like leg extensions, do them until you find something else you like. Don’t overwhelm yourself right away.
- Third, educate yourself. You don’t need a strict plan, but it helps to learn the basics. Platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram have fitness gurus making tutorials on every exercise. Knowing how to use machines or execute a bench press properly makes the gym much less intimidating. Intimidation is the number one thing holding people back.
- Fourth, drink water. Many people don’t feel their best because they aren’t hydrating properly. Pick up a gallon of water, and you will be surprised by how much better you feel in the gym. If you only bring a small water bottle, you might ration it, and 16 ounces isn’t enough for an hour-and-a-half workout. Proper hydration is a basic but crucial step.
- Finally, prioritize sleep. Sleep is super crucial. People brag about getting four or five hours of sleep, but it is terrible for your mental and physical health. You won’t reap the benefits of your gym sessions if you aren’t getting at least seven hours of sleep every night. If you want energy and motivation, you have to sleep. These are easy building blocks that often go over the average person’s head but can massively improve a fitness journey.
Yitzi: Luke, because of your amazing work and the amazing platform that you’ve built, it’s not an exaggeration to say that you’re a person of enormous influence. If you could spread an idea or inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? Because you never know what your idea can spread.
Luke: I don’t know about specific movements, but I do love to share a quote that I live by. I feel like it got me to where I am today: “You can’t lose if you never give up.” That applies to anything in life. Maybe your career isn’t where you want it to be, but quitting is never the answer. If you quit, it’s over, and you lose. If you keep at it consistently, even just a little bit every day, anything can happen. That mindset was huge for me because I posted as a hobby for years without a solid income. I grew up watching YouTubers and knew I could be one of them. I was determined. I knew that if I didn’t give up, I couldn’t lose. I just kept going until I found what worked. Whether you want to climb Mount Everest, be the best lawyer in Los Angeles, or become a pro bodybuilder, you can’t lose if you just don’t stop.
Yitzi: Awesome. Luke, how can our readers continue to follow your work? How could they support your work in any possible way?
Luke: They can find me by my name, Luke Elsman, pretty much across all platforms. I am Luke_Elsman on Instagram, and Luke Elsman on TikTok, YouTube, and Snapchat. I try to put out comedy, skits, fitness advice, lifestyle content, and educational YouTube videos.
Yitzi: Luke, it’s been amazing meeting you. I wish you continued success, good health and blessings, and I hope we can do this again next year.
Luke: Likewise. Thank you so much for taking the time, and best of luck with everything you have going on. It was a pleasure, and I really appreciate it.
Yitzi: Such a pleasure, Luke, a pleasure. It’s a delight to meet you.
Luke: Delightful as well. Have a good rest of your day.
Luke Elsman on Physical Recovery, Mental Health, and Why the Biggest Guys in the Gym Have the… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.