Top 25 Health Influencers of 2014
In a sea of health-related information, it can be difficult to know who to listen to. But there are a lot of experts out there with some valuable advice to share – whether it’s about improving your body, mind, or spirit.
In this article, I’m taking a look at some of the most influential people in health and fitness this year. From TV hosts to athletes and chefs, these are the people who have something important to say. So listen up, get motivated, and make 2014 your best year yet.
Here’s who to pay attention to this year…
The 25 Biggest Health & Fitness Influencers of 2014
1. Rich Froning, The Fittest Man on Earth
This guy was literally named the “Fittest Man on Earth” in the 2011, 2012, and 2013 CrossFit Games, making him an obvious choice to start things off. As someone who has literally dedicated his career to the sport of CrossFit, everything he has to say is worth listening to. Check out his book, First: What It Takes to Win, for a little motivation.
In the meantime, check out my CrossFit Workout at Home to see what all the fuss is about.
2. Wayne Dyer, Father of Motivation
Wayne Dyer is one of the most influential spiritual gurus in the modern world, and he has an amazing down-to-earth quality that makes his advice really relatable. Grab one of his books today if you need a little motivation in your life.
3. Tony Horton, Fitness Coach and P90X Founder
This guy’s been on the fitness stage for a while now, and I swear, he just gets fitter and stronger as he ages. Either way you cut it, he’s doing something right, so grab one of his books or invest in one of his home fitness programs today.
Check out his classic P90X Home Workout System here!
4. Lisa Lillien, The Calorie-Cutter
Lisa is all about cutting the calories and losing serious weight. If weight loss was one of your New Year’s resolutions that still hasn’t seen its day, watch Lisa on the Food Network or pick up one of her Hungry Girl books.
5. Dr. Andrew Weil, Natural Health Advocate
I really like this guy, because he’s doing an amazing job of advocating for a natural approach to things. He owns his own line of natural health products and services (called Weil Lifestyle) and is a professor and director of the Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona.
6. Dr. Mehmet Oz, Your Go-To TV Doctor
Dr. Oz is still the go-to doctor on TV, with advice about every aspect of your health, from mental well-being to fat loss and physical fitness. Tune in, and get some really great practical tips for improving your everyday health.
7. Michelle Obama, Health Expert for Kids
Need some advice on the best approach to your children’s eating habits? The First Lady’s Drink Up and Let’s Move campaigns, combined with her healthy eating initiative, offer some amazing resources for families trying to get it right.
8. Jillian Michaels, Personal Trainer & Fitness Coach
Jillian Michaels still makes into my list of best health influencers of the year. She’s managed to stay pretty relevant in her no-nonsense approach to personal training, fitness, and weight loss. She has a whole DVD workout program I recommend, among many other publications and resources.
If you want to try to push your limits as if Jillian was by your side, try my Jillian Michaels Workout here.
9. Bob Harper, Biggest Loser Trainer & Weight Loss Coach
I can’t mention Jillian without also mentioning Bob, her Biggest Loser co-star. With three books published to date, this guy has a lot of valuable advice for anyone wanting to lose weight and get in shape.
10. Mark Bittman, Vegan Author
If you’re considering becoming vegan or just looking for more resources on the topic, Bittman is the author I would recommend. He offers some practical advice on how to be vegan, with a great book on healthy eating called How to Cook Everything. His other popular book, VB6: Eat Vegan Before 6:00, tells the story of his decision to become vegan.
11. Dr. Drew Pinsky, Psychiatrist and Mental Health Expert
Dr. Drew has made quite a name for himself in recent years, especially in many media and celebrity circles. As a star on multiple TV shows, a radio host, and a New York Times bestseller, Dr. Drew has a common sense approach that appeals to a lot of people needing to make changes in their daily lives.
12. Dr. Deepack Chopra, Your Spiritual Guide to Health
Deepak Chopra has a really unique take on things when it comes to improving health, whether on the physical, mental, or emotional level. As an advocate of meditation and one of Oprah’s recent adoptions, his advice is a different kind than others on this list – but it’s just as valuable. Check out one of his books today.
13. Shaun Thompson, Trainer and Hip Hop Abs Founder
More commonly known as Shaun T, this guy is doing everything right to get your seriously motivated. As the coach for a number of leading home fitness programs, he’s literally got everything covered, from weight loss to sexy abs.
Check out his original claim to fame, and one of the best workouts for spicing things up, Hip Hop Abs.
14. Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Medical Correspondent for CNN
As a practicing neurosurgeon and expert in all things health-related, Dr. Gupta is another great go-to source. He has a practical approach to things that a lot of people appreciate, and you can guarantee you won’t get any fads or gimmicks with this guy.
15. Arnold Schwarzenegger, The Endurance Machine
Despite issues in his personal life, this lifelong bodybuilder, actor, and now politician has managed to remain relevant in the fitness world. He graced a recent cover of Muscle and Fitness magazine and is still looking as strong as ever in his latest movie, The Escape Plan.
16. Todd Durkin, Olympic Trainer
With over 40 training DVDs and years of experience training Olympic medalists and athletes, Todd Durkin is someone who is worth listening to. Check out all the resources he has to offer. If it’s time for you to take things to the next level, Durkin can probably help.
17. Martha Beck, Everyone’s Life Coach
When it comes to making small improvements in your everyday life, author and life coach Martha Beck may be the place to start. Her life is a pretty interesting one – she gave up her career as a Harvard professor to become a life coach and author, and has been featured in O Magazine on multiple occasions. If it’s inspiration you need, Martha Beck has it to offer.
18. Dr. Joel Fuhrman, The Nutritarian
If you want to revolutionize your diet and make a commitment to healthy eating like never before, this is the guy you need to listen to. He coined the term “nutritarian,” which refers to a person who is more concerned about the nutritional content of food than calories.
To start thinking like a nutritarian, get started with my Clean Eating Diet here.
19. Jamie Oliver, The Naked (and Healthy) Chef
If the nutritarian approach is to extreme right off the bat, Jamie Oliver may offer a more practical take on things, with simple solutions to healthy eating in one of his latest cookbooks, Jamie’s Food Revolution.
20. Jen Sinkler, Rugby Player and Health Author
As a former rugby player, Jen Sinkler knows what it takes to get in serious shape. She’s now an avid blogger and writer, offering up a ton of tips for working out, staying in shape, and getting motivated.
21. Richard Simmons, Aerobics Champion
What would a list be without Richard Simmons? You’ve got to give this guy some credit – he’s managed to motivate and energize thousands of people to lose weight over the past few decades, and he’s sensitive to the struggles that people face. He’s still working hard to get people active and healthy.
22. Leo Babauta, Master of Zen
If stress is your biggest problem to overcome in 2014, this is the person to listen to. He’s managed to translate a number of Eastern philosophies and traditions into simple and easy self-help techniques, all in the name of reducing stress and living a better life.
Too much stress on your plate? Learn some basic techniques for stress reduction in my article on Stress and Anxiety Relief.
23. Mark Sisson, The King of Paleo
The paleo diet continues to attract a lot of attention, and Mark Sisson is the guy making sure it stays that way. Running one of the biggest paleo lifestyle resources on the web, Mark has a lot of great advice for healthier eating – and living. You can also pick up one of his many books on the subject.
24. Tony Robbins, Motivator Extreme
This self-help expert and motivational speaker has dedicated his life to making people feel more empowered. If you’re lacking the motivation to make changes of any kind, check out one of his recent e-books or popular seminars.
25. Ben Greenfield, The Triathlete
You might be CrossFit-obsessed right now, but there’s no denying the physical stamina and endurance that are required to run a triathlon. And Ben Greenfield has it down-pat, with over nine years of experience as an Ironman triathlete, fitness coach, and sports science.
Check out one his books, podcasts, or videos. In the meantime, start getting in shape now with one of my Running Workout Routines.
Have any questions or feedback about these Top 25 Health Influencers of 2014? Please leave a comment below…
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Thank you for visiting! Weight Loss and Training is a health blog which features all the best weight loss tips that I have learned over my 20 years of training. My background includes a degree in Kinesiology from the world renown Simon Fraser University, certification in nutritional sciences from UBC, and Personal Trainer Specialist certification from Can Fit Pro.