Today, I’m going to answer the question that I get asked the most.

No, it’s not about the best exercise for certain fitness goals. No, it’s not about equipment-free workouts. And no, it’s not about my favorite dessert (everyone knows that’s carrot cake).

I’m going to answer the question of, “Jeff, which fitness YouTubers do you watch?”

Just like you, I don’t tend to spend a lot of time watching people I don’t like. I reserve that time on YouTube for a full list of people that I do like and I’m going to recommend them to you.

Here’s a surprise though: To meet the requirements for this list doesn’t mean the YouTubers have to be involved in promoting fitness, training, or even lifestyle.

That means the people aren’t just churning out workout videos, breaking down exercises, or making generic cliché fitness videos. They have a lot of videos, but the topics and categories are very diverse.

Will I recommend some of my top choices for the best fitness YouTubers? Yes, but I am also throwing in my picks for entertainment, motivation, health science, and more!

I’ve broken down all these YouTubers into the following categories:

• Fitness YouTubers
• Fitness Science / Nutrition
• Motivation
• Entertainment
• Honorable Mentions

Without further ado, here’s who you’ll find me watching on YouTube.

FITNESS YOUTUBERS

I’m in the fitness space with my own YouTube channel, making my own content, and I have twin sons at home, which means I rarely have a chance to watch much of anything in my niche.  

With that said, when I do have some time to check out fitness YouTubers, I want to make sure that what I’m checking out is of the highest quality.

And the best quality doesn’t mean they have tons of workouts and that’s it. My picks for the best fitness YouTubers have a passion for fitness, and they explain it well.

They don’t need to go through every rhyme and reason for why they are promoting an exercise or a piece of equipment (although most do), so long as they are coming to their own conclusions based on experience and safety.

Plus, it never hurts to have a great personality and sense of humor!

With that said, we kick off my list of the best fitness YouTubers with Knees Over Toes Guy.

KNEES OVER TOES GUY

One of the things that I’ve said from the very beginning of time in regard to fitness channels is that I don’t want you to give me another Jeff Cavaliere.

I don’t want to see a person that’s just going to copy what someone else is already doing.

I’m not impressed by people who lift weights and then talk about someone’s beliefs on lifting weights, but don’t talk about their own experience.

Give me someone who thinks about fitness workouts differently. Show me someone who challenges the way we think about everything from a yoga class to a weight loss journey, and that’s going to get my attention.

Which is why I watch Knees Over Toes Guy.

He’s changed the way people think about knee pain as a firsthand sufferer of it for many years. Most importantly, he’s changed the outlook on knee pain in a way that makes a whole hell of a lot of sense.

One of the best points from Knees Over Toes Guy is the breakdown of the biomechanics of the lower leg. Even if you’re interested in full-body workouts, you need to pay attention to his lower body tips.

He makes it clear that the lower leg requires more dorsiflexion in getting that knee further out over your toe. And it’s this dorsiflexion that will easily translate into the exercises that you are already doing now.

He’s got an intelligent approach to fitness, especially lower body exercise, and he makes it easy to understand no matter your experience level.

As a knee pain sufferer, I recommend you check him out. I think you’ll enjoy his content as much as I have. More importantly, I’m sure you’ll put his information into practice.

JOHN MEADOWS

The next channel I’m recommending here is one that belongs on this list for many reasons besides this guy being a dear friend of mine.

I’m talking about the great John Meadows.

John was a fitness instructor that was one of the best. John knew how to break down bodybuilding for you (regardless of your fitness level) better than anyone on this platform, and he did it in the most likable way.

He knew how to explain exercises and how to cover common training mistakes, but most of all he knew how to get more from you and more sweat out of you.

Despite his passing, I continue learning from him, and I know you can too since his fitness channel has a large variety of workout videos.

I’m confident that if you met him and knew him, there’s not a single person that could say that they didn’t like John Meadows.

John was a great family man, role model, and someone I continue to be inspired by. For me, John Meadows and his bodybuilding channel will always be something that I recommend to you.

MORE PLATES MORE DATES

Next up on my recommendations is somebody that you probably know, or at the very least, you probably know his delts.

I’m talking about Derek from More Plates More Dates.

Outside of his fitness content, I’m really impressed by the fact that no one knows his last name, and that’s for a very good reason.

Derek has managed to brand his entire channel around his first name, because people know him as Derek from More Plates More Dates.

In other words, they know him as their friend, someone that they can converse with. And every single video that you watch of his, you’re going to get that tone of talking with a friend.

And I think that’s the reason people relate to him as much as they do.

Now, some of his content doesn’t necessarily interest or relate to me. For example, I’m not a fan of learning about the specifics of steroid cycles as it relates to strength training.

But for those that do find it interesting, you’re going to get a reliable, experience-driven, and honest answer to a difficult question.

WILL TENNYSON

If you want to see a guy who puts a lot of quality effort into his videos, making them both educational and engaging, you need to check out Will Tennyson.

I really appreciate the insane amount of effort and hard work that Will puts into each and every video. I know what goes into making videos like that, so he definitely has my respect.

What’s more, he looks AND acts the part. He’s young and in great shape but he’s also engaging and fun. He is incredibly positive in delivering his message from video to video, helping you get the most out of your gym membership.

Stop by his channel soon!

JESSE JAMES WEST

In terms of personality, I would say this next person is the polar opposite of some of my picks for the best fitness science YouTubers. With that said, he is absolutely worth checking out.

I’m talking about Jesse James West.

You might be surprised that I actually watch these videos, but I really do, and I enjoy them.

He does interesting challenges, lots of collaborations, and has a way of engaging the audience like very few can.

Getting the audience hooked no matter where they are in their fitness journey and being able to keep them on the video so they can learn is just as important as the information itself.

Jesse has no problem with any of those things.

FITNESS SCIENCE / NUTRITION YOUTUBERS

Right now, you might be wondering, “Jeff, what’s the difference between fitness YouTubers and fitness science YouTubers?”

Simply this: my picks for fitness science YouTubers spend a great deal of time on delving into the science behind exercise.

More importantly, they make it easy for the viewer to understand very complex concepts such as results from scientific studies. These are people that go beyond the abstract in a scientific paper.

And so, with that, we start off this list with Jeff Nippard.

JEFF NIPPARD

Guys, you know that ATHLEAN-X is all about putting the science back in strength by combining the both the practical and the hands-on application of science in everything we do.

That being said, a lot of science is tough to deal with because it’s inaccurate or conflicts with itself. Not to mention, it can be confusing as hell.

If you’re not familiar with scientific terminology or you just don’t have the patience to try to understand it, you need somebody that’s willing to read the research, understand it and be able to summarize it for you in a way that allows you to incorporate the information into your workout plans.

And for that, I recommend Jeff Nippard and his fitness channel.

I have a lot of respect for Jeff. He’s willing to take the complicated sweat science and make it understandable for people that don’t ever really read the research in the first place.

It takes someone truly dedicated to their craft to go through all that literature, and then present to you the unbiased workout science and what it exactly means without an agenda.

It doesn’t matter if you’re an athlete or casual gym goer, you’ll learn a lot from this channel.

RHONDA PATRICK

Just like the exercise studies that Jeff reads and breaks down, everybody knows that nutrition and supplementation can be a very complicated science.

What’s more, nutrition science is easily one of the most debated topics, especially when it comes to specific fitness goals like weight loss.

I don’t want to hear a biased opinion on nutrition science. I want the facts. I want a channel that applies an extreme knowledge of the subject matter so they can approach it in a more objective way.

And for me, Rhonda Patrick does this better than anybody else.

Rhonda’s brand, Found My Fitness, takes nutrition science and breaks it down for you so that by the end of a video, you feel as if you understand every single piece of it.

And best of all, you will walk away with some actionable advice to apply to your fitness journey for a balanced lifestyle.

You might learn about something to add to your supplementation plan. Or you might find something you want to change about how you’re eating or your lifestyle right now. It’s this one change that could pay big dividends to your overall health.

If you haven’t checked her out yet, I highly recommend that you do. She’s one of the smartest people on this platform and beyond.

ANDREW HUBERMAN

Speaking of putting actionable advice at your fingertips, my next pick is Dr. Andrew Huberman.

Whether you want to know about how much sunlight exposure you should get in the morning to optimize your health and longevity, or how cooling your hands can improve your output from set to set in your workout routines, Andrew is the guy to check out.

I recently had a chance to appear on a podcast with him, and I can confidently say that this is a person you should be investing your time in.

BRIAN SUTTERER

My next recommendation comes from another colleague of mine in the medical field, and we’re talking about Dr. Brian Sutterer.

He is a physiatrist and fitness enthusiast who breaks down injuries. And as you guys know, as a physical therapist, I can certainly appreciate an injury and more importantly, how to rehab somebody from an injury.

But what’s really important for you is to understand how they happen.

If you understand the mechanisms of an injury, you might have a better awareness of how to prevent one in the first place.

ELITEFTS

When it comes to pure strength, the guys that I rely on are the ones who understand the science and have the ability to put what they teach into practice.

And for me, one of the best places to find that is going to be EliteFTS.

I’ve always found myself navigating towards the Swede Burns videos. There’s something about his ability to coach in that laidback but still incredibly effective way to explain proper form, exercises, or whatever it is he’s teaching.

Let’s face it, guys. There’s a wide range of ways that people approach different lifts, but when you find the person that can convey the idea in a way that clicks for you, it’s a game changer.

Not to mention, he’s not the only one over there that’s handing out incredibly valuable information. Whether it be Dave Tate or JM Blakely, the channel is full of solid information from a fitness fanatic.

Definitely a place you can want to check out if getting stronger is what you want to do.

MOTIVATION YOUTUBERS

Everyone needs a push sometimes, and these are the channels I watch for that motivation.

C.T.  FLETCHER

I always say every good coach needs a coach. Someone to motivate and push them.

When it comes to motivation, there’s one type of motivation that I like, and it’s that in-your-face kind of motivation. The type that will push you to do things that you don’t want to do.

For that, I turn to C.T.  Fletcher.

Not only is he a friend of mine, but he’s been somebody that I have turned to for that motivation when I need it the most. I will always rely on the great C.T. Fletcher to get me fired up.

If you need someone that can light the fire under you when you least want to work out, I highly recommend that you invest some time in watching him.

DAVID GOGGINS

And of course, continuing the theme of the type of person that I turn to for motivation, you can probably guess that David Goggins is somewhere on my list.

Ironically, he doesn’t even have a YouTube channel. But you’ve probably seen more YouTube videos of him than maybe anybody else.

David, a former Navy SEAL, is about as hard and tough as they come. And he’s done it all as far as workouts go. From bodyweight training and high intensity interval training to insane cardio exercises and heavy weights, Goggins is the real deal.

You’re not going to find any way out, or at least not the easy way out with him.

If you want to be called out on your weaknesses and pushed to face them so that you can rise to the next ability level, then you’re going to want to check out one of his many videos.

JOCKO WILLINK

The final entry of my motivational go-tos is one I guarantee you’ve heard or watched, even if it was just in passing. I’m talking about Jocko Willink.

Jocko is another former Navy SEAL, fitness specialist, and someone who knows how to get you to do something that you didn’t really want to do in the first place.

But more importantly, he knows how to make you a better leader.

Of course, as a leader of my channel, I always watch Jocko to learn how I can better serve my followers and my viewers through leading by example.

He can get you to perform better in all aspects of your life including school, business, and the everyday struggles we all encounter.

If you’re the type that also appreciates the direct, no nonsense kick in the ass that we all sometimes deserve, then make sure you reserve some time to watch Jocko Willink.

ENTERTAINMENT YOUTUBERS

Whether you are looking for a laugh or to learn something new, here are some great entertainment YouTube channels that I watch.

BRIGHT SIDE

This next pick proves that not all screen time is bad or a waste. In fact, I’d say this pack shows us the bright side of YouTube.

You can learn a lot with Bright Side. From fun educational videos to quizzes and riddles, Bright Side is great if you like to train your brain from time to time.

The fact is guys, if you haven’t seen Bright Side, I’m sure you can find a topic that will intrigue you. Best of all, they publish every single day so there’s plenty to watch.

RICK BEATO

Now, this one might come out of left field for some of you guys that don’t realize my love of music and my background playing the piano, but I really do love music. And for me, Rick Beato is a must watch when it comes to breaking down music.

He has a way of breaking down music so you can understand what it is you’re actually hearing from the individual instrument contributions to a popular song like Rocket Man, or just breaking down his favorite part of a song like For Whom the Bell Tolls.

Not only that, but he’s also extremely passionate and you can feel it from the first second all the way to the last second of the video.

BRO SCIENCE LIFE

Naturally, it can’t be all work and no play. When you need a break from learning, you need somewhere to go and someone to watch.

I like to decompress and laugh, and one of my favorite fitness picks in entertainment is Dom Mazzetti from BroScienceLife.

This is someone that’s made me laugh for years and more importantly taught me some very important fitness tips.

Like, leg day doesn’t matter, arm day is the most important, and SARMS actually stands for “Steroids Are Really Much Sicker.”

If you’re looking for a laugh, you’re going to have to check out BroScienceLife.

HARRY MACK

As I mentioned previously, I’m a big musician at heart. and one of my favorite musical picks is someone that I came across on Tik Tok.

We’re talking about Harry Mack, one of the baddest cats on the planet when it comes to freestyle rapping.

Typically, you give him a few words, and he can make an entire song right there on the spot. His man-on-the-street approach is also incredibly real and engaging. You can’t help but watch.

JOE ROGAN

I know a lot of people won’t be surprised with this next pick because he’s arguably the most popular podcaster and YouTuber out there.

I’m talking about Joe Rogan.

The thing that’s most appealing to me is that he shows a genuine interest in his guests and a wanting to learn from them. He has a wide variety of diverse guests on his show, many of whom he might not necessarily agree with.

And if you too have an open mind about the topics and guests on his podcast, there’s always something you can walk away with, especially after three hours of chatting.

It’s that open-minded approach that ensures I’ll continue to listen, and I recommend you do too.

JOMBOY MEDIA

For anyone that has watched this channel or knows my professional background, you’ll know that I spent three years as the Head Physical Therapist and Assistant Strength Coach for the New York Mets.

It goes without saying, I love baseball. I might not work within the baseball industry anymore, but I still stay up to date with it by watching Jomboy Media.

He knows how to break down a baseball game in a very unique way. More importantly, he breaks down what the players are actually saying during an argument or what a manager is saying as the player is getting kicked out of the game.

His ability to decode what these guys are saying accurately is something you just have to check out.

MR. BEAST

If you’re not aware of the next person on my recommendations list, then you’re just not watching YouTube enough because everybody knows who Mr. Beast is.

He really should be called Mr. Best because, the person who puts the best videos out on this platform is Mr. Beast.

No matter what you’re interested in, you’re going to find yourself clicking on one of his titles. With that said, it’s important to point out that it’s not clickbait. No matter how sensational the video topic may seem, he somehow figures out a way to deliver every single time.

Guys, if you haven’t done so, crawl out from under that rock and make sure you check out the huge variety of videos from his channel.

MR. WHO’S THE BOSS

While Mr. Beast may be known by pretty much every single person on YouTube, the next Mr. is someone that maybe not everybody knows. But you should know about him, especially if you’re into tech the way I am.

We’re talking about Mr. Who’s the Boss.

Mr. Who’s the Boss puts a lot of time and effort into the quality of his content.

Whether he’s breaking down the latest Samsung Galaxy or telling you to save your money on the latest MacBook Pro, the bottom line is he’s doing it in a way that’s very understandable and most of all enjoyable to watch, which oftentimes isn’t the case when we’re breaking down tech.

For many, tech videos are boring, but when he does it, it’s a hell of a lot more exciting.

WWE

I’m a big fan of the WWE, and I’m not the only one. There’s over 90 million people subscribed to this channel at the time of this post.

Growing up, I lived less than an hour from their headquarters, so I had good reason to want to pay attention. But in general, I just grew up loving wrestling.

That being said, as a physical therapist and strength coach these days, I can certainly appreciate the demands of the job.

And I find more joy and satisfaction in working with these guys, knowing that I’m always going to get the best effort they have.

It’s not just the entertainment value that we get, but it’s the understanding and the appreciation you have when you know what’s actually going on behind the scenes.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Those are my top picks for fitness YouTubers as well as other channels that I regularly watch.

I also have some friends that didn’t make the list simply because I didn’t want this to become a biased friends list.

With my list out of the way, I’m going to mention other fitness YouTubers that I watch a lot. Trust me, these channels are worth a watch just as much as the people above. They cover a ton of topics, from full-length workouts and lifestyle content to tips on perfect form and daily check-ins with other pros (not to mention so much more!).

During your search, give some of your time to the following channels:

• Matt Wenning
• Alan Roberts
• Chris Duffin
• Pete Rubish
• Shredded Sports Science
• Joe DeFranco
• Mark Bell

Finally, I can’t forget about you, my viewers. I appreciate every one of you for watching this channel and subscribing.

And so, with that, guys, you’ve got plenty of recommendations to go out and start watching a hell of a lot more YouTube. And I’m talking about more than just channels for workouts.

But, in your YouTube search, if you feel inspired to take on a new workout and don’t know where to start, I can help out.

We have plenty of effective workouts for you, no matter your exercise goals or what Goggins or Willink motivated you to do.

If you’re looking for a complete training program to build muscle and strength, we’ve got you covered.  Check out our ATHLEAN-X programs to see which one is the best fit for your goals and fitness level.