Indie hackers are ditching Adderall for deadlifts. Here's how a $100 bet can reduce your anxiety for 48 hours.

• Stimulants give you a short dopamine hit, while lifting weights clears brain fog, reduces anxiety, and boosts energy for 48 hours.

• Lifting grows neurons, boosts confidence and energy levels, and even fixes back pain.

• Indie hackers gamify gym consistency with $100 bets for missed workouts.

As an indie hacker, you juggle countless tasks, coding sprints, shipping deadlines, and the constant mental grind. It’s exhausting. Many are tired of relying on caffeine, nootropics, or prescription drugs to get through their day.

There’s a better way that doesn’t involve stimulants. A bunch of indie hackers have caught on in the past year, and it’s stupidly simple: just start lifting, bro, or sis.

Let’s talk about all the not-so-obvious perks of weightlifting.

Start ditching pills for plates

The mainstream go-to’s — caffeine, energy drinks, or Adderall — just don’t cut it anymore. Not that they ever really did, we just didn’t know any better. They give you a quick dopamine hit, then leave you crashing hard.

Heavy lifting, on the other hand, provides tremendous results, without cons (if done properly). It's basically about making your body uncomfortable by pushing weights that challenge you. But it’s not just about getting stronger, your brain gets a major boost too. Just like a computer runs smoother after a restart, your brain can get a reset from a solid workout.

Here are some of the best perks (I’m just listing the ones that matter most to indie hackers — there are just too many of them):

48-hour mental clarity: lifting heavy weights quiets anxiety, depression and reduces brain fog for two full days.

Neurogenesis: a 2024 MIT study found that lifting weights releases myokines — “fertilizer” for nerve growth — that trigger neurons to grow four times faster, enhancing problem-solving, memory, and creativity.

Natural high: when you lift, your body releases a cocktail of endorphins that makes you feel good.

Testosterone boost: resistance training increases T levels boosting energy and confidence, especially in men.

Back pain relief: in a world where everyone’s back is shot, lifting can actually help fix it.

Beyond mental and physical health

1. Confidence: a fit physique changes how people perceive you.

2. Discipline: showing up to lift, even on off days, builds the kind of discipline that carries over into everything.

3. Networking: Levelsio sets up gym hangouts with his indie hacking friends — he even got Balajis to deadlift with him.

   So @balajis promised me to go deadlifting
   
   If I'd come speak at his conference
   
   And so he did 😝
   
   He also built an absolutely maxed out gym at the Network School, all equipment is new, lots of squat and bench racks, it has like 16 air conditioning units, absolutely perfect… pic.twitter.com/aacMyz2yEI

   — @levelsio (@levelsio) September 24, 2024

Consistency and accountability

Indie hackers love systems. One way they turn your gym routine using gamification, is through a $100 accountability bet. Levelsio and his friends have a simple deal — skip 3-4 gym sessions in a week, and you owe $100. A bunch of other indie hackers jumped on the idea and started using it too.

And some even made the bet with Levelsio himself:

Key points to lift like a founder

1. Bet on yourself: throw down $100 with a friend to keep yourself accountable. Nobody skips leg day when cash is on the line

2. Fix your form: “GET A PERSONAL TRAINER!” screams Levelsio. If you’re lifting like a pretzel, someone needs to call you out.

3. Track: use a workout app or a simple spreadsheet to track your progress.

4. Start with basics: start small and focus on compound lifts (deadlifts, squats) for maximum ROI.

The Bottom Set

Heavy lifting isn’t about getting shredded (though that’s a bonus). It’s about biohacking your way to reducing stress, upping your brain functions, and building a better business and life.

So next time you’re tempted to pop a pill, pick up a weight instead. Your neurons — and customers — will thank you.

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