Ray Dalio Says the Dollar Is Dying. Here's What to Do Before It Does.

Yeah. That Arnold Schwarzenegger.

So do Codie Sanchez, Scott Galloway, Colin & Samir, Shaan Puri, and Jay Shetty. And none of them are doing it for fun. They're doing it because a list you own compounds in ways that social media never will.

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I tried to carry my go-bag and two water jugs up a flight of stairs last week. My legs were fine. My grip gave out. My forearms burned, and I set everything down after 30 seconds. Turns out the muscle groups that matter for preparedness aren't the ones that look good at the beach.

Here's what I've got this week.

Fitness That Actually Helps When It Matters

This isn't a workout plan. It's a practical look at the physical demands that emergencies actually create, and how to make sure your body can handle them.

When researchers study disaster survivors and first responders, the physical tasks that come up most often are walking long distances (especially with weight), lifting and carrying objects, climbing stairs, crouching and crawling, and sustained effort over hours without rest. These aren't gym exercises. They're functional movements.

The single most important fitness capacity for preparedness is the ability to walk several miles carrying a load. Your go-bag weighs 20 to 25 pounds. If you need to evacuate on foot, that pack needs to feel manageable, not crippling, after an hour. The only way to build this is to practice it. Put on your bag and walk. Start with a mile. Add distance over time.

Grip strength matters more than most people realize. Carrying water jugs, opening stuck valves, climbing, pulling yourself over obstacles, all require grip. Farmer's carries (pick up heavy objects and walk with them) are the most practical grip exercise. Dead hangs from a pull-up bar build grip endurance.

Core strength isn't about six-pack abs. It's about the ability to stabilize your body while lifting, carrying, and moving under load. Planks, loaded carries, and getting up from the ground with weight are more useful than crunches.

Flexibility and mobility prevent injuries. In an emergency, you might need to crawl under debris, climb through a window, or work in awkward positions for extended periods. Basic stretching and mobility work (10 minutes a day) keeps your body capable of movements it hasn't done in years.

Cardiovascular endurance doesn't require marathon training. Walking briskly for 30 minutes, climbing stairs, or cycling provides enough baseline fitness for most emergency scenarios. The goal is sustained effort, not peak performance. You need to function for hours, not sprint for seconds.

Here's the honest truth: any fitness is better than no fitness. If you're currently sedentary, start with daily walks. If you're already active, add loaded carries and grip work. The bar for emergency fitness is lower than the internet suggests. But it's higher than zero.

Put on your go-bag and walk around the block.

Just once. Notice how it feels. Are the straps comfortable? Does the weight sit right? Are you winded after five minutes? This ten-minute test tells you more about your readiness than any fitness tracker.

Only 23% of Americans Ages 17 to 24 Are Physically Eligible to Serve in the Military — and Automatic Draft Registration Starts in December

Pentagon data shows that just 23% of young Americans ages 17 to 24 meet the physical, mental, and moral standards for military service without a waiver. Among those who meet weight requirements, only 3 in 4 are physically active enough to handle basic training. The Department of Defense spends $1.5 billion annually on obesity-related healthcare costs for service members and their families. This matters beyond the military: if fewer than 1 in 4 young adults can handle sustained physical exertion, most of the population is functionally unprepared for the physical demands of a serious emergency. Starting in December 2026, eligible men will be automatically registered for selective service.

Source: CDC, CNN Politics

Rudy Reyes served in Force Recon Marines and portrayed himself in HBO's Generation Kill. In Hero Living, he writes about fitness as a preparedness multiplier, not as vanity or sport, but as the physical capacity to protect the people you care about. His philosophy is that fitness isn't about the gym. It's about being useful.

Reyes emphasizes what he calls "functional readiness," the ability to carry a child, drag an injured person, climb a fence, or walk ten miles if you have to. His recommended baseline: be able to walk five miles with a 25-pound pack, carry 50 pounds for 100 yards, get off the ground from any position without assistance, and sustain physical effort for two hours without exhaustion. That's it. Simple, measurable, and achievable for most adults.

Available on Amazon for $24. Get Hero Living here.

Ray Dalio Warns the Dollar Has Entered Its “Final Phase” — Down 27% Against Gold Since Last Summer

Hedge fund legend Ray Dalio issued a stark warning on April 19 that the U.S. dollar is in the “final phase” of a long-term decline. The dollar has fallen roughly 27% against gold and 45% against Bitcoin since summer 2025. Dalio, who manages the world’s largest hedge fund, attributes the decline to the U.S.’s $38 trillion in national debt and warns of a simultaneous monetary, domestic, and geopolitical breakdown. He calls gold “the safest money” and recommends holding 10 to 15% of your portfolio in it.

Source: ZeroHedge, Fortune

Fit Simplify Resistance Band Set

I've been using these for about six months. The set includes five bands of increasing resistance that work for upper body, lower body, mobility, and rehab exercises. Total cost: about $12.

Why resistance bands for preparedness fitness? They're light (the whole set weighs under a pound), they store in a drawer, and they travel easily. If you're working on grip strength, shoulder mobility, or general conditioning, bands provide enough resistance to build functional fitness without a gym membership.

I use them for pull-aparts (shoulder health), banded rows (back strength), and terminal knee extensions (knee stability). Ten minutes a day, usually while watching something. The progression is built in: just grab a heavier band.

They're not a replacement for loaded carries and walking with a pack. But they're a supplement that takes up no space and costs almost nothing. About $12.

Budget alternative: A gallon jug of water ($0). It weighs about 8 pounds. Carry two of them around the block. That's a farmer's carry with free equipment.

Available on Amazon for $9.98. Get the Fit Simplify Resistance Bands here.

Overrated: Tactical fitness programs marketed to preppers. Most are designed for people already in excellent shape. For the average person starting from a sedentary baseline, daily walking and basic bodyweight exercises provide more practical benefit than any branded "operator workout."

Underrated: Getting off the ground. Can you get down to the floor and back up without using your hands? This simple test correlates with longevity and functional mobility. If you can't do it comfortably, start practicing. In an emergency, you might need to crawl, take cover, or help someone on the ground.

ThePrepared.com: Physical Preparedness — Practical guide to fitness for emergencies.

StrongFirst.com — Functional strength training resources. Focus on carries, swings, and practical movement.

NerdFitness.com — Beginner-friendly fitness guidance without the intimidation factor.

Grokipedia: Functional Fitness — Background on training for real-world physical demands.

YouTube: Loaded Carry Tutorial — Search for “farmer’s carry tutorial” for form and programming guidance.

Vehicle emergency kits for winter. Ice, snow, and cold create scenarios where your car kit might keep you alive for hours before help arrives.

PS: I can now carry my go-bag for three miles without stopping. Six months ago it was definitely less. The progress came from walking, not from any fancy program. Start where you are.

They're too busy reading it.

Arnold Schwarzenegger. Codie Sanchez. Scott Galloway. Colin & Samir. Shaan Puri. Jay Shetty. They all figured out the same thing: owned audiences compound, rented ones disappear. beehiiv is where they built theirs.

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