Tee Labs x Elite

On December 4th, BayHelix held its second offline event of the year at the Tee Labs incubator in Zhangjiang, Shanghai. Themed “Bidding Farewell to the Old Year, Nurturing Body and Mind,” the event specially invited Leon Chen, a national-level referee and national bodybuilder, and Mark Tang, Managing Director of New York Health Capital, both of whom have profound insights on the topic of “health,” to share their thoughts at the event.

Like previous events, this gathering maintained a relaxed, pleasant, and comfortable atmosphere, where participants spoke freely, much like a casual chat among good friends, discussing how to build a strong physique and how to maintain well-being. This themed event also connected everyone through close-up sharing of personal experiences and insights from attendees and guests, fostering mutual enrichment and collective growth.

The event began with simple self-introductions from the attendees, followed by guest speakers Leon Chen and Mark Tang, who shared their personal experiences and life insights.

Guest Sharing

Leon Chen shared his insights on how to build a healthy physique, drawing from his years of personal fitness experience and in-depth observations of trainees who have transformed themselves through exercise. He has profound feelings about fitness and well-being.

“In today’s aging society, most people experience a decline in muscle strength, gradually losing muscle mass, bone density, and nervous system function. This leads to reduced physical mobility and an increased risk of metabolic changes and accidents like falls. Traditional belief holds that aging is irreversible and requires reliance on medical care or long-term care systems. However, the field of sports science has, over the past half-century, discovered methods for improving physical fitness and resisting the aging process in later life.”

“Scientific training can effectively stimulate muscles, bones, and the nervous system, leading to long-term improvement of maximum muscle strength in middle-aged and older adults and maintaining optimal physical fitness. In other words, before middle-aged and older adults require ‘long-term care,’ intervening early with a ‘regular training’ system to combat the decline of physical fitness is the key technology for facing an aging society. Improving muscle strength boosts metabolic rate, leading to a significant increase in energy levels.”

“Health doesn’t just depend on doctors; it depends more on ourselves! The best doctor for well-being is oneself. Health preservation must begin with nurturing the mind. Everyone has the potential to transcend the limits of age and enjoy a century of healthy, active life. The key to this lies in nurturing the mind, which means maintaining a cheerful, optimistic, and positive outlook, being adaptable, and remaining resilient.” This was the health secret Mark Tang mentioned.

People with a positive mindset have a significantly lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease. A study from the University of Illinois found that compared to pessimists, optimistic individuals had markedly more stable blood sugar levels, healthier cholesterol indicators, were less likely to smoke, and were more active in their fitness routines; their odds of having good cardiovascular health were twice that of pessimists. The more optimistic a person is, the lower their risk of developing cognitive impairment. This is because when people feel optimistic about the future, the risk of cognitive decline, such as a decrease in their memory, problem-solving, and judgment skills, is reduced. When faced with stressful events, the level of stress hormones in the body increases. Studies have found that pessimistic individuals have higher levels of stress hormones than optimistic ones, and their self-regulation abilities are weaker when facing stressful events.

Afterward, Leon engaged in a dialogue with the attendees, sharing his views on how to maintain good physical and mental health.

Dialogue Session

Below is a summarized (and edited) transcript of the dialogue:

How does food make us gain weight?

Leon: Any food that causes fluctuations in our blood sugar will lead our bodies to store fat. The main culprits are carbohydrates, oily and sugary foods, and highly processed foods.

What if I have to drink at a social event?

Leon: First, you can do fasted cardio in the morning to create a calorie deficit and appropriately reduce your carb intake for the day. When drinking, try to stick to meat and vegetables.

What if I have already been drinking at an event?

Leon: If you’ve been drinking and feel unwell, you can have some yogurt and drink plenty of water. The next day, you can do a fasted cardio session to help flush out the alcohol. Also, be mindful of the interval before your next meal—generally 12-14 hours—and opt for a carb-free meal. Drinking plenty of water after alcohol helps eliminate it and speeds up recovery.

How to prepare for an important event the next day?

Leon: The night before, avoid spicy, salty, high-carb, and high-sugar foods, as these cause the body to retain water, leading to a puffy face. Eat a light meal and drink plenty of water—ideally 1.5 to 2 times your usual intake.

Leon finally mentioned the principles of fat loss and fat gain. Strength training can increase muscle strength and metabolic rate, making the body’s functions more youthful. Diet planning is equally important. He mentioned that every meal should include protein, recommending sources like meat, eggs, and dairy. Carbohydrate intake should be timed around when the body needs it most, such as in the morning, at noon, and before and after strength training. At the same time, reduce refined carbs and opt for whole grains instead.

The sharing from the guest speakers resonated strongly with the attendees, who actively participated in discussing their own feelings and insights. Sacrificing personal time for work is an almost unavoidable choice for entrepreneurs. As a platform for entrepreneurs, Tee Labs hopes that they can take a moment from their busy schedules to focus on their own physical and mental health, and to balance work and life. Maintaining a healthy body can prevent illness, resist aging, and is also the foundation for excellent work performance and a fulfilling life.

We hope this article provides you with some inspiration, and we look forward to the next gathering.